Links between Lowestoft break-ins

POLICE are hunting burglars responsible for a spate of break-ins around the Lowestoft area and this week urged locals to play their part in bringing the offenders to justice.

POLICE are hunting burglars responsible for a spate of break-ins around the Lowestoft area and this week urged locals to play their part in bringing the offenders to justice.

With eight families having been targeted since last Tuesday and detectives are looking at links between several of burglaries in which thousands of pounds of valuables were taken.

The Journal can reveal that a worrying spate of house burglaries have been recorded by Lowestoft police since December 23 - with 30 incidents having been reported.

Police spokesman Anne-Marie Breach said officers were working hard to catch the offenders, but urged members of the public not to be afraid to call 999 if they see anything suspicious in their neighbourhood.

'We are keeping an open mind, but there are similarities in a number of these incidents and we are looking into the possibility of them having been committed by the same group of offenders. We are looking to do a number of things to target those responsible,' said Miss Breach.

'Members of the public have a really important role to play. If they hear or see something suspicious, they should contact us. We would rather check it out.'

This could include hearing suspicious noises or seeing unfamiliar people carrying large electrical items or bags in the street, Miss Breach added.

The burglaries included a break-in a house in Lovewell Road, between 6.30am and 7.10pm last Friday where a games console was stolen.

On Saturday, between 10.15am and 4.30pm, jewellery, a mobile phone, a television and games console were among items stolen from a house in Beaconsfield Road.

A laptop computer, games console, games and cash were then stolen during a burglary in Rushmere Road, Carlton Colville, between 1.30pm and 6.45pm on Sunday.

Two other burglaries led to cash and jewellery being stolen from homes in Clifford Drive and Elm Tree Road on Saturday. Break-ins also happened in Thistledown, Carlton Colville, and Long Meadow Walk at the end of last week.

Miss Breach added: 'The offenders don't realise the impact they are having on victims. The impact of having somebody in your home can be untold so if you hear or see anything, let us know because you could stop it happening to somebody else.'

Anyone with information about the burglaries should contact Lowestoft CID on 01986 835300.