A man has been charged with three burglaries – two of them in Hove – in the past month.
Lee Terrence Goulding, 21, a landscape gardener, of no fixed address, was charged on Tuesday (31 January) with three offences of burgling homes.
Goulding appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (1 February) and was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday 1 March.
He is accused of breaking into a house in Goldstone Crescent, Hove, at about 2.45pm on Wednesday 18 January. A red Volkswagen Golf estate car was taken.
He was also charged with an attempted burglary, in nearby Woodland Drive, Hove, which happened less than half an hour earlier. Detectives believe that he ran off empty-handed after the alarm went off.
And he is charged with burglary at an address in Halls Drive, Faygate, Horsham, last Monday (30 January).
Sussex Police said: “Two men were seen by neighbours to be acting suspiciously outside the house in Halls Drive on Monday morning.
“Police made one arrest following a search of the area and the red VW Golf estate stolen during the Goldstone Crescent burglary was found abandoned in nearby Earl’s Meadow, Horsham.”
Detectives have been investigating a series of burglaries during which vehicles have been stolen.
Sussex Police said: “Thieves broke into houses during the daytime and evenings while occupants were out, stealing car keys, and then taking the vehicle from the driveway or garage.
“Jewellery and cash was also taken from the houses in ten of the cases including the Halls Drive case but in that case the property was dropped as offenders ran off, and has been recovered.
“Offences happened in Horsham, Haywards Heath, Worthing, Henfield, Steyning, Partridge Green Shoreham and Hove.”
An Audi stolen from Haywards Heath was recovered in Saltdean on Wednesday 18 January.
Detective Constable Jamie Carruthers, of the West Sussex Priority Crime Team, said: “If you have any information about this series of burglaries please email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Apricot.
“You can also report online to https://sussex.police.uk/contact-us/response-to-appeal or call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 (www.crimestoppers-uk.org).
“Meanwhile please continue to take great care to secure your homes and make sure your car keys are out of sight. If you see any suspicious activity, please ring 999 at once.”
