Police appealing for information after five Brentwood burglaries
Police are appealing for information after a spate of burglaries in the Brentwood area over the weekend.
The thief gained entry by acting as a police officer, a gardener or a tree surgeon.
Three burglaries occurred on Friday, July 13. The first was at 1pm at Gloucester Road, Pilgrims Hatch, when a man claiming to be a police officer said he caught someone coming out of the victim’s house and needed to check for finger prints. Money was later found to be stolen from a tin.
The second was between 3pm and 3.15pm, at Lime Avenue, when a man claiming to be a landscape gardener asked to do some work. He then asked for a cup of tea and to use the toilet. The victim later found her purse, cash and cards stolen.
In Doddinghurst Road at 3.30pm a man claiming to be a tree surgeon said he wanted access to the garden. The victim stated they did not have any but the man insisted on checking and went around the side of the house into the back garden.
The man was later found in the house and was asked to leave. It is believed he gained access via an unlocked back door. A messy search was discovered of all the rooms but nothing appeared to be stolen.
On Saturday, July 14, at 4pm at Hutton Road, Shenfield, a man entered a house through an open front door while the victim was weeding in the garden. The victim challenged him and he said he was a gardener and he needed some change. After he left the victim discovered money was missing from several places in the house.
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On the same day at 4.10pm in Harewood Road, Pilgrims Hatch, a man told the owner he was a gardener and asked if he could cut the grass. Once inside the house he stole her handbag containing cash and keys.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Charlie Cronin said: “On each occasion the suspect is described as a white man with dark hair, aged between 20 and 40, wearing blue jeans.
“If you were in any of the areas at the times stated and saw anyone suspicious or any vehicles hanging around, please contact me.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
