Police appeal after 8 break-ins south of Horsham district

The burglaries took place in the south of the district between Saturday 21 September and Tuesday 1 October.

Jewellery has been stolen from each property while expensive electrical items have been left.

Sometime between 8pm on 21 September and 12.25am on 22 September, cash was stolen from Bowmans Close in Storrington and a safe was stolen from Greenhurst Lane, Thakeham between 8.30am and 12.30pm on 25 September.

Also on 25 September cash and jewellery were stolen from Shoreham Road in Henfield between 8am and 4.15pm.

Between Saturday 21 September and Thursday 26 September a house in Kithurst Park in Storrington was broken into and jewellery was stolen including an unusual Ebel watch with a pearl face, several rings, a Robert Cavalli snake bracelet and cufflinks with engraved initials.

On Monday 30 September between 12.30pm and 5pm, a property on Honeybridge Lane in Dial Post was broken into and again jewellery was taken, including watches, rings and gold chains.

More jewellery was taken on Tuesday 1 October from a house on Horsham Road in Steyning.

A property in Orchard Dell in West Chiltington was broken into and the owners disturbed a man in the house, who dropped a man as he was fleeing the property. Another house in Hyde Street in Upper Beeding were broken into on 30 September but nothing was believed to have been stolen.

Detective Sergeant Dave Grover said: “We are urging people to stay vigilant and keep an eye on neighbours’ properties during the daytime, as most of these offences have happened between 8am and 5pm. You know what is suspicious behaviour in the area you live and if you do see anything please report it to us.

“In some of these offences, items found in the garden, like a spade and a garden chair, were used to gain access to the property. Please make sure there is nothing left outside your house which could be used to break into your property.

“We are releasing an Efit of a man who was disturbed at the break in at Orchard Dell. Do you recognise this man? As we are linking all these burglaries, have you seen this man in the area of any of the other break ins.

“Some of these items are distinctive such as the watches. Have you seen any of these items for sale or been offered them to buy?

“Anyone with information or has seen anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 101 or email [email protected] quoting Operation Bourne.”