Police are still hunting a gang of thieves behind a lightning crime spree that saw them raid a string of businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk in the space of less than two hours.

The criminals targeted firms on either side of the county border along a 20-mile corridor linked by the A146 back in June 2023.

The three men - dubbed the A146 Gang - called at pubs, shops and beauty salons, distracting staff and customers with bizarre tactics, before stealing items and moving on to the next location, sometimes just metres away.

Their ploy involved causing confusion, by waving magazines at workers and bombarding them with a string of unusual demands while stealing loose items like phones, keys and cash.

The group were repeatedly captured on CCTV and police were alerted while the raids were ongoing.

Now 10 months later on, police, who tracked the location of a stolen phone to an address 100 miles away in London, are still investigating the crime spree and have made no arrests.

The suspects started their journey of distraction thefts in Lowestoft, before heading towards Beccles where they tried to heist several businesses, they then struck at Gillingham and then Thurton near Loddon.

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Within four hours of the phone being taken from the Thurton pub, the stolen iPhone's location on a map could be seen in the capital.

Lowestoft Journal: The men tried to charm their way behind the counter and force their way upstairs at Blossom Clinic in BecclesThe men tried to charm their way behind the counter and force their way upstairs at Blossom Clinic in Beccles (Image: Submitted)Lowestoft Journal: One of the men took himself behind the counter at Tan Republic in LowestoftOne of the men took himself behind the counter at Tan Republic in Lowestoft (Image: Submitted)

At the time victims expressed frustration that the gang were not caught on the night, but Norfolk and Suffolk police say the only call they received while the raids were ongoing was from Tan Republic in Lowestoft.

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It was not until after a phone had been taken from each of the Gillingham Swan and George and Dragon Pubs that were the police called.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Norfolk police quoting crime reference number: 36/45855/23