Efit of man acting suspiciously in Bognor Regis released

Efits have been produced from victims after a report of a man approaching an elderly woman in the town and two other similar incidents in Hove.

On September 18 in West Avenue, a man knocked on a woman’s door around 11.55am claiming to be from the water board and asking to check her stop cock.

The victim was suspicious and asked to see the man’s ID.

He said he would get it from his van but never returned. She phoned the police and helped them put together an Efit of the suspect.

Eight days later an elderly woman was approached close to her home address in Brittany Road, Hove.

A man in a white transit van engaged her in conversation and gained her address.

On October 2 the man called at her home and again tried to talk to her, the woman felt suspicious as the man appeared to now have a false beard.

The man claimed to live on her road but enquiries have shown this is not the case.

An Efit was produced and the image is a striking resemblance to the image produced by the victim for the Bognor incident.

The man is described as stocky or muscular build, in his 50s, piercing eyes, and he has a very distinctive red and green tattoo which is an elaborate pattern the entire length of his right arm.

Also on October 2, another elderly woman was approached as she got off a bus in New Church Road, Hove.

The man claimed to have carried out work at her address, which have been established didn’t happen, and asked her to remind him of her address, which she did.

When she returned home the same afternoon the man knocked on her door and asked her for cash for the work he claimed to have carried out.

He then asked to use the bathroom and stole an envelope containing several hundred pounds.

This man was described as 30s to 40s, tall, with a local accent and wearing a flat cap. Officers believe this incident is possibly linked to the other two due to the nature of the offence, time and location.

Detective constable Jessica Terrill said: “The woman in Bognor did exactly the right thing by refusing to let him into the house before she saw some valid identification.

“Our advice is quite simple: If you are not sure, don’t open your door. If someone calls at your address for a genuine reason then they will be happy to show you identification, and they will wait or come back whilst you make enquiries.

“If you do not recognise someone, do not give your details to them on the street. Instead ask for a business card or number and tell them you will get back to them.

“Never hand over cash to someone who comes to your door; always ask for an invoice to be sent to you. If they insist on coming inside and you feel uneasy call police on 999”

If you have any information regarding any of these incidents or if recognise the man in the Efit, please contact police on 101 or email [email protected] quoting serial 664 of 18/10.

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimsestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.