Burglars broke into five Hove businesses in one night, stealing petty cash and even a charity pot.
Staff at an estate agent, a cafe, two law firms and a mortgage company all came to work last Tuesday morning to find their workplaces had been hit.
And another business, an accountants, was targeted but the burglars failed to gain entry.
On duty responding to several reports of breaks to business premises overnight in Hove. Worth double checking your current security measures
— A/Sgt Simon LARDNER (@PC_Lardner) April 21, 2015
Police believe that not all the incidents were linked, with some carried out by a pair of mixed race men and others by a tall white man.
The following businesses were targeted:
- Break in at estate agents in Church Road, Hove, at 12.40am on Tuesday morning (April 21). Untidy search, but nothing reported as stolen. Serial 28 of 21/04.
- Break-in to a cafe in Victoria Terrace, Hove. Money taken from till sometime between 4.30pm on Monday (April 20) and 6.15am on Tuesday. Serial 117 of 21/04.
- Break-in at a law firm in Hove Street between 8pm on Monday and 7.30am on Tuesday. Petty cash stolen. Serial 146 of 21/04.
- Attempted break-in at an accountants in The Drive, Hove, between 6pm Monday and 9am Tuesday. Entry wasn’t achieved. Serial 268 of 21/04.
- Break-in at a solicitors in Church Road, Hove, overnight on Monday/Tuesday. Nothing reported stolen. Serial 508 of 21/04.
- Burglary at a mortgage company in Church Road, Hove, around 12.20am on Tuesday. Cash from a charity pot stolen. Serial 1563 of 22/04.
A police spokesman said: “Initial investigations indicate that not all of the offences were committed by the same offenders.
“Suspects include two mixed race men at one of the locations and a slim white man about 6ft tall wearing a hooded top, gloves and trainers at another.
“Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area overnight on Monday or into the early hours of Tuesday is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting one of the serial numbers above. Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
