16 December 2014
A group of burglars are now believed to be responsible for more than 200 break-ins across the south east.
It is thought that one group of up to a dozen burglars are involved in 59 offences in Sussex, 24 in Surrey, 113 in Kent and nine in London since September. The make-up of the group may change depending on who is available.
Last week - between Monday 8 December and Sunday 14 December - there were 18 burglaries committed in Sussex that are being linked to the group along with four in Surrey and 22 in Kent.
On each occasion the offenders have driven to their victims' homes in a silver or dark car, usually an Audi or BMW, before breaking in at the back of the properties and stealing cash, jewellery and electrical items.
A reward worth up to £10,500 has been put up for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any of those involved in the burglaries.
Sussex Police launched Operation Magpie to tackle burglary across the county.
The thieves are believed to be using cars fitted with number plates that have been cloned from another unrelated car of the same type and colour. Officers would like to speak to anyone who sees people changing number plates or who finds any abandoned plates.
Detectives are also urging residents to help them catch those involved by dialling 999 immediately if they see people acting suspiciously near their homes - in particular if they notice potential offenders with silver Audis or BMWs.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Clay of Surrey Police, who is leading the investigation, said: "There are detectives from across the south east working to catch those involved but we need the public's help.
"The key to identifying the people responsible may come from residents living near one of the victims. They may have seen the thieves escaping in their silver car or could have seen people acting suspiciously over the weekend.
"I would also urge people to continue to be vigilant in their areas and to tell us if they see anyone who is acting unusually near their homes. If something sticks out as suspicious to you, please tell us so we can investigate - it could be the break that we need to catch those involved."
Sussex Police, Kent Police and Surrey Police have each contributed £2,500 to a reward to help catch the offenders - a total of £7,500 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved.
Independent from the police, the charity Crimestoppers is offering its own reward of up to £3,000 for information that is passed anonymously through the organisation's 0800 555111 number that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for these crimes.
If information passed to the charity should lead to an arrest and conviction, both rewards will be considered.
Anyone with information should contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting Operation Smart, email
101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101.
If you have any information about burglaries or shops selling stolen goods, call 101 or email
101@sussex.pnn.police.uk. For crime prevention advice visit
www.sussex.police.uk.
If you see or hear a burglary taking place call 999 immediately.
Residents are also being encouraged to register their items on the world's largest property database so that if they are stolen, they can be reunited with the owners - and so the offenders can be prosecuted.
You can register your property in just a few minutes by visiting
www.immobilise.com. To watch a video about Immobilise and how it works, visit
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XZ66WEER_c.
In Sussex the burglaries have been in:
17/9 - Calluna Drive, Copthorne
18/9 - Church Lane, Copthorne
3/10 - Maple Dell, East Grinstead
3/10 - West Beeches Rd, Crowborough
3/10 - Woodview, Crowborough
3/10 - Langridge Close, Crowborough
6/10 - Meadow Close, Copthorne
9/10 - Millbrook Road, Crowborough
9/10 - Warren Ridge, Crowborough
9/10 - Eridge Gardens, Crowborough
9/10 - Swift Close, Crowborough
10/10 - Jordans Crescent, Crawley
10/10 - Jordans Crescent, Crawley
10/10 - Baker Close, Crawley
11/10 - Tushmore Lane, Crawley
11/10 - Netherwood, Crawley
11/10 - Buckswood Drive, Crawley
12/10 - Newlands Park, Copthorne
12/10 - Newlands Park, Copthorne
14/10 - Park Shaw, Battle
14/10 - Weald View, Robertsbridge
16/10 - Sheringham Close, Robertsbridge
28/10 - London Road, Burgess Hill
28/10 - Munnion Road, Ardingly
28/10 - Munnion Road, Ardingly
28/10 - Munnion Road, Ardingly
28/10 - Hophurst Drive, Crawley Down
28/10 - Hill House Close, Turners Hill
28/10 - Dunstall Avenue, Burgess Hill
28/10 - Gander Hill, Haywards Heath
28/10 - Gander Hill, Haywards Heath
4/11 - Mowbray Drive, Crawley
4/11 - Tallis Close, Crawley
6/11 - The Glebe, Copthorne
12/11 - Cross Lane, Findon
12/11 - School Hill, Findon
12/11 - Avon Close, Sompting
12/11 - The Grove, Newhaven
12/11 - Rectory Road, Newhaven
5/12 - Blakes Farm Road, Southwater
5/12 - Blakes Farm Road, Southwater
9/12 - Roffeys Close, Copthorne
9/12 - Park Road, Burgess Hill
9/12 - Gander Close, Burgess Hill
9/12 - Manor Drive, Cuckfield
13/12 - Midfields Drive, Burgess Hill
13/12 - Hurstwood Lane, Haywards Heath
13/12 - Beale Street, Burgess Hill
13/12 - Silverdale, Hassocks
13/12 - Whitegates Close, South Chailey
13/12 - Whitegates Close, South Chailey
13/12 - Chantonbury Road, Burgess Hill
13/12 - Whitegates Close, South Chailey
13/12 - Kymer Gardens, Hassocks
14/12 - Shepherds Way, Hassocks
14/12 - Chandlers Mead, Cooksbridge
14/12 - Nightingale Lane, Burgess Hill
14/12 - Kymer Gardens, Hassocks
14/12 - Park Road, Burgess Hill
In Surrey the burglaries were in:
17/9 - Brighton Road, Horley
11/10 - Fairfield Avenue, Horley
11/10 - Field Bank, Horley
14/10 - Lagham Park, South Godstone
28/10 - Weatherhill Road, Smallfield
4/11 - Dovers Green Road, Reigate
4/11 - Yew Tree Close, Horley
4/11 - St Monicas Road, Tadworth
4/11 - Bakers Close, Lingfield
6/11 - Pinewood Avenue, Addlestone
6/11 - Redehall Road, Smallfield
6/11 - Redlands Garden, West Molesey
6/11 - Burden Way, Guildford
6/11 - Kings Chase, East Molesey
6/11 - Nortons Way, Five Oak Green
7/11 - Park Avenue, Redhill
7/11 - Bayfield Road, Horley
7/11 - Grovehill Road, Redhill
7/11 - Bakehouse Road, Horley
7/11 - The Drive, Horley
5/12 - Chessington Road, Epsom
9/12 - Tudor Close, Smallfield
9/12 - Tudor Close, Smallfield
9/12 - Park Road, Smallfield
9/12 - Park Road, Smallfield
In Kent the burglaries were in:
16/09 - Highfield Road, Sevenoaks
16/09 - The Crescent Sevenoaks
16/09 - Crowhurst Lane, Sevenoaks
16/09 - Zambra Way, Sevenoaks
16/09 - Tudor Drive, Sevenoaks
16/09 - Ascot Close, Sevenoaks
24/09 - Tattlebury Lane, Cranbrook
26/09 - Stream Pit Lane, Cranbrook
29/09 - Fen Pond Road, Sevenoaks
29/09 - Fen Pond Road, Sevenoaks
01/10 - Wallace Close, Tunbridge Wells
03/10 - Eastlands Road, Tunbridge Wells
03/10 - Furnace Lane, Tunbridge Wells
09/10 - Rodmell Lane, Tunbridge Wells
11/10 - St James Rd, Tunbridge Wells
11/10 - Leighton Close, Tunbridge Wells
11/10 - Gipps Cross Lane, Tunbridge Wells
11/10 - Widbury, Tunbridge Wells
11/10 - Manor Road, Tunbridge Wells
11/10 - Dornden Drive, Tunbridge Wells
15/10 - Bessel Way, Sevenoaks
16/10 - Elphicks Place, Tunbridge Wells
16/10 - Elphicks Place, Tunbridge Wells
16/10 - Boundary Road, Tunbridge Wells
16/10 - Forest Road, Tunbridge Wells
18/10 - Copseside, Longfield
18/10 - Copseside, Longfield
19/10 - Pelham Road
20/10 - Lyndhurst Drive, Sevenoaks
20/10 - Stafford Way, Sevenoaks
20/10 - Weald Close, Sevenoaks
20/10 - Bessel Way, Sevenoaks
23/10 - High Street, Sevenoaks
23/10 - Pilgrim Way, Sevenoaks
23/10 - Kemsing Road, Sevenoaks
23/10 - Shoreham Road, Sevenoaks
23/10 - Conifer Drive Meopham
23/10 - Warham Road, Sevenoaks
24/10 - Coach Road, Sevenoaks
27/10 - Greenhill Road, Otford
27/10 - Kingsfield Road, West Kingsdown
27/10 - Ash Road, Longfield
27/10 - London Road, Sevenoaks
27/10 - The Old Yews, Longfield
27/10 - Cricketers Drive, Meopham
29/10 - Hartley Bottom, Longfield
31/10 - Hartley Bottom, Longfield
1/11 - Snoll Hatch Road, Tonbridge
1/11 - The Freehold, Tonbridge
1/11 - Smithers Lane, Tonbridge
1/11 - Church Meadows, Tonbridge
1/11 - The Manwarings, Tonbridge
3/11 - Old Road, Wateringbury
3/11 - Freelands Road, Snodland
3/11 - Meteor Road, Kings Hill
3/11 - Tonbridge Road, Maidstone
3/11 - Terminus Road, Maidstone
3/11 - Courtlands Close, Maidstone
3/11 - Bridgewater Place, Leybourne
3/11 - Tonbridge Road, Maidstone
4/11 - Red Hill, Wateringbury
5/11 - Town Hill Close, West Malling
5/11 - Drage Road, East Peckham
5/11 - Laxton Gardens, Tonbridge
5/11 - North Street, Maidstone
5/11 - North Street, Maidstone
5/11 - Oast Court, Yalding
5/11 - Barnfield Road, Sevenoaks
6/11 - Courtyard Gardens, Wrotham
6/11 - Nortons Way, Five Oak Green
26/11 - School Close, Meopham
26/11 - Knockhall Road, Greenhithe
26/11 - Lyndhurst Way, Istead Rise
29/11 - Allington Road, Paddock Wood
29/11 - Green Lane, Paddock Wood
29/11 - Buttercup Close, Paddock Wood
29/11 - Tonbridge Road, Maidstone
29/11 - North Street, Maidstone
29/11 - Angley Court, Horsmonden
30/11 - Forge Lane East, Maidstone
30/11 - Hazlitt Drive, Maidstone
2/12 - Hever Road, Edenbridge
2/12 - Ridge Way, Edenbridge
5/12 - Whitchurch Close, Maidstone
5/12 - Hale Street, East Peckham
5/12 - Hale Street, East Peckham
5/12 - Dean Street, East Farleigh
5/12 - Postmill Drive, Maidstone
5/12 - College Avenue, Tonbridge
5/12 - Old Road, East Peckham
6/12 - College Avenue, Tonbridge
8/12 - Winchs Garth, Tonbridge
8/12 - Manor House Gardens, Edenbridge
8/12 - Maltings Close, Tonbridge
8/12 - Warrington Road, Paddock Wood
8/12 - Crown Acres, Tonbridge
8/12 - Beverley Road, Maidstone
8/12 - Allington Road, Paddock Wood
8/12 - Shaftesbury Drive, Maidstone
8/12 - Maypole Lane, Cranbrook
9/12 - Shaftesbury Drive, Maidstone
11/12 - Goldsmid Road, Tonbridge
11/12 - Marle Place Road, Tonbridge
11/12 - Minters Orchard, Pett Platt
11/12 - Church Lane, East Peckham
11/12 - Pine View, Platt
11/12 - Penn Way, Tonbridge
11/12 - Framley Road, Tonbridge
11/12 - Bessels Way, Sevenoaks
11/12 - Paiges Farm Close, Sevenoaks
12/12 - The Hurst, Borough Green
12/12 - Bow Hill Oast, Maidstone
12/12 - Framley Road, Tonbridge
In London the burglaries were in:
15/10 - Grangewood, Bexley
15/10 - The Oval, Sidcup
4/11 - Foxbury Close, Orpington
4/11 - Waring Drive, Orpington
4/11 - Arundel Drive, Orpington
4/11 - Arundel Drive, Orpington
4/11 - Grasmere Road, Croydon
10/11 - Glentramon Road, Chelsfield
10/11 - Glentramon Road, Chelsfield
Best Regards
John
John Wright MBE
Chair.
Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation.
Mobile: 07917385213
Business:01444 247368
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