Sussex Police have released an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with a distraction burglary reported in Horsham earlier this month.
Incident and appeal
The force says the offence took place on 8 July at about 2.40pm on Crawley Road, Horsham. Two men reportedly attended a private address and allegedly presented themselves as carrying out electricity security checks. After the visit, the occupant discovered that cash, bank cards and jewellery were missing.
“Do you recognise this man? Police have released an image of a man, who officers wish to speak to, after a distraction burglary in Horsham.”
Police describe one of the men as about 5ft 5in, of a large build, in his 40s with short dark hair. The second man was said to be of similar height, slimmer and was wearing a grey top under a high visibility vest.
How the public can help
Officers have asked anyone who recognises the man pictured, or who has any information that could assist the investigation, to contact Sussex Police. Information can be submitted via the force's online reporting channels or by phoning 101, quoting serial 1056 of 08/07.
- Offence: distraction burglary
- Date and time: 8 July, c. 2.40pm
- Location: Crawley Road, Horsham
- Items reported stolen: cash, bank cards, jewellery
Context and risk
Distraction burglaries typically target households by offering a plausible reason to gain entry, frequently preying on older or vulnerable residents. Police appeals that include images aim to prompt identification of suspects through public recognition and to deter repeat offending. The force has said investigations are ongoing and further enquiries have been carried out prior to the release of the image.
| Suspect detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Suspect 1 | Approx. 5ft 5in, large build, in his 40s, short dark hair |
| Suspect 2 | Similar height, slimmer, grey top under high visibility vest |
Anyone with dash-cam, doorbell footage or other information relevant to the case is asked to come forward to assist the ongoing enquiries.
The appeal and image were posted on the Horsham Police Facebook page on 30 July. Sussex Police continue to investigate the report and have asked members of the public to provide information through the channels above.
