CCTV image could be burglar who raided 40 village homes while owners were out
POLICE have released an image of a lone man who they believe is at the centre of 40 burglaries carried out in two Lincolnshire villages.
Since May, he has stolen tens of thousands of pounds of jewellery and cash from properties in Nettleham and Saxilby.
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Police are looking for this man in connection with more than 40 burglaries.
The homes targeted have been empty with many of the occupants having gone on holiday.
And it remains a puzzle how the thief seems to know the properties are vacant.
The images from August 15, which have been exclusively revealed to the Echo, show the man in Horncastle town centre, where he has also allegedly struck six times.
The Echo previously reported on the Nettleham burglaries, but the Saxilby and Horncastle incidents were revealed yesterday.
Officers asked the Echo to publish the pictures in an attempt to uncover the perpetrator's identity.
They are offering a £1,000 reward to information leading to a conviction.
Through detailed investigations, including increased patrols in the area and, in some cases, covert work, police are confident the man is from the South Yorkshire area.
DCI Shaun West said: "The detailed work we have done with these images means we are very confident this is our man.
"Although we can't go into detail for operational reasons, we are also extremely confident he lives in or regularly visits the South Yorkshire area.
"We need people in Lincolnshire to study these images and tell us if they think they know this man."
8 Comments
by Margaret, Lincoln
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 7:52PM
“Nick you are right it would not be pactical for people to come home each day, but they could get a reliable neighbour to go in evening and morning to open and close blinds/curtians. That way it looks as though someone is home.”
by Michael, Lincoln
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 3:59PM
“Why is he not wearing a black and white hoooped jumper and a bag with the words SWAG on it? This would help the Police to positively identify him as the burglar. Honestly, these burglars are far too clever these days.”
by Nick, Lincoln
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 3:22PM
“So should they come back each day and open them lynn?????”
by lynn, lincoln
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 12:29PM
“I've noticed on the estate where I live, lots, and lots have vertical blinds, when they go away they tend to slat them so no one can see in, left like this for days at a time is a sure give away the house is empty.”
by Steve, Hougham
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 11:43AM
“is it the Milkman?”
by womble, lincs
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 8:57AM
“just throw the charity bags in the bin as i do..charity begins at home.”
by Just a Thought, Lincoln
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 8:55AM
“The very handy online burglary tool 'Google Street view' must be really very useful when sussing out how best to access a property.
How does he know if the property is empty though? No idea - Travel agent or Taxi company connections? Or maybe just gets the number out of the phone book and rings constantly for a day/night?
Hope this leads to his arrest and that the police haven't stuffed up the paperwork so he gets off on a technicality!”
by A village resident, Just outside Lincoln
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 7:33AM
“It would be really good if the publication of this photo leads to the arrest of the individual responsible for this series of thefts.
The Echo says that it remains a puzzle how the thief seems to know the properties are vacant. At risk of upsetting some totally legitimate organisations, I do wonder about the huge increase in charity bags being dropped through front doors by people unknown in these communities. Delivering a bag allows someone to ignore any signs saying 'no cold callers', get really close to a property and suss it out. It only needs one bent person in a team to be the source for the burglar who can then check out the property
Is there any way of licencing or reducing charity bag deliveries ?”