Police appeal for witnesses and information after series of burglaries at farms and farm shops in East Sussex

A spokesperson for Sussex Police said the incidents at farms and farm shops in Wealden took place overnight from Friday, November 6 into Saturday, November 7

Officers are investigating and believe the incidents could be linked.

The Sussex Police spokesperson said: “It is believed that a group of four people went to steal from six premises - in Little Horsted, Hadlow Down, Mark Cross, Ringmer, Glynde and Mayfield.

“Items stolen included meat stocks, butchery tools and alcohol.

“Officers have released CCTV of four people at one of the farms.

“They are also seeking information on a white Vauxhall van, which was found near one of the locations.”

Detective Inspector Rob Tillyer, from the Burglary Team, said: "It is unusual to have multiple locations to be targeted in one evening but it is likely that these were opportunists and we consider the incidents linked.

"We recognise the hugely disruptive and intrusive nature of these offences and colleagues from Neighbourhood Policing, Rural Crime Team and Burglary Teams have provided a combined response.

"We have attended each location, completed initial enquiries with the assistance of forensic examiners where suitable and we are reviewing CCTV.

"We can assure the victims that we are making extensive enquiries with the aim of identifying the offenders, bringing them to justice and recovering stolen items."

The police spokesperson added: “Neighbourhood officers and those from the Rural Crime Team have increased their patrols and we urge rural businesses to keep accesses, buildings and vehicles secure and to report any suspicious activity to the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

“If anyone has any information, CCTV or dashcam footage which they believe can help in the investigation, they should contact police on 101, quoting Op Trek.”