£5000 reward in police hunt for East Sussex home burglars

A reward of up £5000 is offered this week in the latest twist to a hunt for violent thieves who terrorised the occupants of two homes in East Sussex last November.

Detectives disclosed the reward, put up jointly by Sussex Police and the independent charity Crimestoppers, as they also released an E-fit of one of the suspects who attacked 77-year old Mr William (BIll) Skipper in his own home during one of the attacks. The reward is for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible for one or both of the attacks.

The investigation links the violent burglaries in Hadlow Down on November 6 and Ditchling on November 19. Cash was taken in each case together with shotguns in the latter crime. On each occasion elderly occupants were left shocked and shaken and in the Hadlow Down case Mr Skipper was badly beaten.

Detectives also seek to contact anyone who saw a blue/grey VW estate, registration R277JDU, in the Ditchling area on the evening of the latest offence, Thursday November 19 . It was seen parked just a short distance from the scene in Common Lane just before the offence and was subsequently found burnt out by the side of the A281 at Henfield;

Detective Inspector Dave Wardley-Wilkins of Sussex Police Major Crime Branch is leading the enquiry. He said: "These are two very serious incidents. We have linked them due to a number of common factors, including the type of people targeted and the methods used by the offenders. We believe they targeted the addresses in expectation of finding substantial amounts of cash.

"Incidents such as these are rare - they were not random attacks. There is no need for the public at large to be alarmed. These crimes may have happened three months ago but we are still on the case.

?We ask people to continue to be vigilant and report suspicious sightings of people or vehicles in rural areas. Police officers and PCSOs have been active in patrolling and visiting people who they think would particularly benefit from crime prevention advice.

''I have no doubt that someone knows who is responsible for these attacks. Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity of the attacks, who thinks they may recognises the subject of the E-fit, or who has any other information about them, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, is asked to contact us via 0845 60 70 999, quoting Operation Otham. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

The reward is for information given to Crimestoppers which leads to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible for one or both of the attacks. Rewards can only be claimed by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Rewards cannot be claimed if giving information via their online form.

Carolyn Collard, Chair of Sussex Crimestoppers said: "People should feel safe in their own homes. We must not let these despicable criminals get away with traumatising people and stealing their treasured possessions and cash. We urge the public to pass on any information they may have on these crimes to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No one will know you called."

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Summary of the crimes;

- Ditchling on Thursday November 19; just after 5.30pm three men entered and attacked the 72-year old sole occupant of a house in Common Lane, just north of Garden Pride. They assaulted him and tied him up whilst they searched the house and stole four shotguns and cash. They untied the man before leaving some 45 minutes later. He was treated at Royal Sussex County Hospital for minor injuries but not detained.

Descriptions of the men are limited, but one was stocky, wearing black clothing, with a black woolly hat and a white dust protector type mask over his face.

- Hadlow Down at about 6pm on Friday November 6. Two men entered a house in Wilderness Lane. They attacked the elderly retired couple and demanded money. During a sustained attack 77-year old Bill Skipper was hit several times with a blue handled claw hammer. The couple suffered significant cuts and bruises and both were taken for treatment at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells.

The first man is described as about 6 feet tall and of broad build. He was wearing a dark coloured hooded jacket and a mask. The jacket is described as stripped with faded green and black stripes. The mask is described as being similar to a 'black and white minstrels' mask but it could have been a Halloween one. At one point the mask was removed and Mr Skipper saw the offender's face. He was white, clean shaven, in his mid thirties with light coloured short hair.

The second man was about 5'8'' tall, of slimmer build and wearing a woollen type 'beanie' hat with a scarf across his face. He had a dark coloured half or three quarter length coat on, dark trousers and dark shoes.

They stole the couple's Ford Focus and took more than £1000 cash, several shotguns, a deactivated revolver (all lawfully held), credit cards and some jewellery.

Police are not currently linking those two crimes to a violent attack in Dodds Bottom at Cackle Street just off the A22 south of Nutley, shortly before 6am on Friday September 25. Three men attacked the two residents, both in their seventies. The man was attacked outside the property as he was preparing to go to work as a market trader and the woman threatened inside from which the offenders took a bag containing several thousand pounds in cash. One of the suspects is described as more than 6' tall, and well built, wearing a balaclava. The other two were less than 6' tall and wore overalls. All three wore woollen gloves.

Detective Inspector Wardley-Wilkins said; ?from a detailed examination of all the circumstances we now feel this incident may have been carried out by a separate group. However we are still keen to pursue lines of enquiry on that crime too.?

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