Series of West Norfolk raids ‘may be linked’, officers say

Officers are investigating the possibility that two spates of burglaries in West Norfolk are linked.

It comes after five break-ins were reported in the area last Wednesday, June 20, following six raids in a single day earlier this month.

Medals from both the First and Second World Wars, jewellery and money were among the items taken during the earlier raids, and police are trying to establish if anything was stolen in last week’s cases.

Det Sgt Sam Pontin said: “There are obviously similarities between these incidents – the same time of the day and the same method of entering, so we are looking into the possibility of them being linked.”

The culprits were potentially the same, he added, and so are being investigated as one, although there is currently no concrete evidence of this.

Det Sgt Pontin said the force is concentrating on the dark-coloured Audi in which it is believed three men travelled in between West Winch and Lynn last Wednesday afternoon.

A number of shops and businesses in the Heacham and Hunstanton areas were also targeted last week.

But Det Sgt Pontin added it was “hard to say” if he believed this was a sign of a surge in these types of crime.

“We have no knowledge that we are going to be targeted again in the future but it could happen again,” he said.

What the burglaries definitely have in common is that they take place during the day at unoccupied premises.

Det Sgt Pontin urged residents to make their homes “difficult targets” and ensure it seems like someone is in.

Insp Mark Askham added the force currently has patrols in the “crime corridor”, and they are also using specialist resources to support that.

“It’s just to ensure that the community feels safe,” he said.

Insp Askham also asked neighbours to be an “additional eye” when they know others are not at home.

Anyone who has any information, is asked to call Lynn CID on 101.