Sussex Police: Horsham Neighbourhood Policing Team

Weekly Update W/E 18 March 16

News summaries, advice and appeals

For the latest news please click on the link below to the Sussex Police news pages:

http://www.sussex.police.uk/whats-happening/latest/news-stories

Purse and mobile phone thefts:

Two mobile phones and two purses were stolen from shoppers’ bags in Horsham Town Centre on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 March. Whilst this isn’t a significant problem in Horsham Town Centre we would like to remind shoppers to remain vigilant.

Busy public places like shopping areas, cafes, restaurants and pubs can sadly attract pick pockets because they can steal personal items without you even knowing about it. Please don’t give them the opportunity. Take care of your money and personal possessions using the following advice:

 Use a handbag that can be closed properly - zipped up preferably - so that it is more difficult for someone to open it and reach in.  If you use a wallet, keep it in a front pocket rather than in your back pocket, making it harder for a thief to slip their hand in unnoticed.  If you use a handbag with a strap, wear it across your body and not just over one shoulder so it is more secure.  Don't leave your handbag tucked under your chair or table where someone can grab it.  Consider using a purse lanyard which attaches your phone or purse/wallet to your bag or clothes.  If you do keep your purse in a shopping bag, put your purse at the bottom and not near the top, and use a shopping bag that can be closed if possible.  Be as secure with your mobile phone or iPod as you would your purse or wallet and ensure it is put away safely if you use it in the street.  Register your valuables on the free online property database www.immobilise.com. That way, police have more chance of being able to return them to you if they're lost or stolen.

Free purse bells are also available from Horsham Police Station front office counter or can be obtained by contacting your local PCSO.

Other Crimes/Incidents from across the Horsham District this week:

If you have seen or heard anything related to these incidents please contact Sussex Police here, email [email protected], call 101 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Area Ref Date Details Forest 155 15/03 Brighton Road, Horsham

Between 4pm on Monday 14 March and 7:45am on Tuesday 15 March a Takecuhi TB1160 digger was stolen from a building site in Brighton Road. The offender/s gained entry to the building site by cutting the perimeter fence and the digger was moved out onto Athelstan Way where it is believed to have been loaded on to another vehicle. Lime Avenue, Horsham

250 14/03 Between 5pm and 10pm on Sunday 13 March a white Specialized mountain bike was stolen from the garden of a property in Lime Avenue. Laughton Road, Horsham Roffey North An attempt break-in to a bungalow in Laughton Road is thought to have occurred during the week prior to Tuesday 15 March. 1404 15/03 The elderly occupants were woken by a loud noise one morning between 3am and 4am and later found damage caused to net curtains and a fanlight window was no longer secured on its latch. Crawley Road, Horsham

Between 8:30am and 5pm on Monday 14 March a property in Crawley Road was broken into. 1129 14/03 The suspect gained entry by smashing open a rear patio door. Roffey South A quantity of jewellery and watches were stolen. Fitzalan Road, Horsham

623 18/03 A bag of prescription medication was stolen from the back seat of a Kia Sportage parked outside of the shops in Fitzalan Road at around midday on Thursday 17 March. Old Wickhurst Lane, Broadbridge Heath

Police are investigating a burglary at a bungalow in Old Wickhurst Lane, Broadbridge Heath, in which several musical instruments were among items stolen by intruders.

1057 13/03 The break-in is thought to have occurred at some time between Monday 7 March and Sunday 13 March.

Broadbridge The property was searched and thieves took a gold engagement Heath ring; costume jewellery; a Spanish guitar and case; a violin, case and bow; a mandolin and case; a banjo, a flat screen TV; items of bedding and two power drills and bits. Ellis Road, Broadbridge Heath

Between 6pm on Sunday 13 March and 8:30am on Monday 14 1617 14/03 March a Nissan Qashqai parked on a driveway at a property in Ellis Road was damaged. A large score mark was made by the offender along the length of the driver’s side of the vehicle. Bashurst Hill, Itchingfield

A Ford Transit tipper truck parked on the driveway of a property in Bashurst Hill was broken into overnight between 6pm on Itchingfield Tuesday 15 March and 8am on Wednesday 16 March. The suspect gained entry by smashing a rear window in the cab and a quantity of power tools were stolen, including a Stihl hedge trimmer, a Husqvarna chain saw and an 18 inch cutting bar. Church Lane, Southwater

Between 6pm on Saturday 12 March and 8:45am on Sunday 13 March five pedal cycles were stolen from outside Holy Innocents Church in Church Lane. The bicycles had been chained together Southwater 341 13/03 and the chain cut by the suspect/s. The bicycles are described as (1) an orange Trek mountain bike (2) a bright green and blue mountain bike fitted with Rock Shock forks (3) a white Carrera Valour mountain bike (4) a red and white Specialized Epic mountain bike and (5) a red and black Specialized Hard Rock mountain bike. Horsham Road, Rusper

A white Landrover 110 tipper was stolen from a property in Horsham Road between 6:30pm and 6:50pm on Wednesday 16 Rusper 1357 16/03 March. The vehicle contained a quantity of tools.

The vehicle was located the following morning abandoned on land at Kilnwood Lane, Faygate. East Street, Billingshurst

Between midnight on Saturday 12 March and 8am on Monday Billingshurst 437 14/03 14 March a window at the vets in East Street was smashed and entry gained to the premises but nothing is believed to have been stolen. An attempt was also made to break-in to an adjoining flat but no entry was gained. Stane Street, North Heath

998 12/03 24 Leylandii trees were stolen from a property in Stane Street overnight between 9pm on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 March. The offender/s gained access to the property via Gay Street Lane. Pulborough Stane Street Close, Pulborough 530 17/03 A Stihl leaf blower was stolen from a Ford Transit van parked in Stane Street Close just before 11am on Thursday 17 March. Haglands Lane, West Chiltington

West Chiltington 378 13/03 11 rolls of wire fencing were stolen from a field in Haglands Lane between 6pm on Friday 11 March and 9:15am on Sunday 13 March. Storrington & Water Lane, Storrington Sullington 450 14/03 Two garden ornaments were stolen from a property in Water Lane over the weekend of 12/13 March. The two bronze deer are described as being the same size as a Labrador dog. Kingsland Close, Storrington

Between Saturday 12 March and Monday 14 March an attempt 584 15/03 was made to break into a property in Kingsland Close. Tools from a shed in the garden were used to try and force open a door but no entry was gained. 222 16/03 Hormare Crescent & Dean Way, Storrington

227 Sussex Police are investigating the thefts of three BMWs from separate addresses, one of which was later found by the owner, 329 overnight on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 March in Storrington.

A black BMW 120DM Sport was stolen from the driveway of a property in Dean Way between 8:15pm on 15 March and 7:50am on 16 March.

A grey BMW 118 was stolen from the driveway of an address in Hormare Crescent between 1am and 6:30am on 16 March.

A grey BMW 135i Coupe was also taken from a driveway overnight in Hormare Crescent but was found by the owner parked further along the street the following morning. A Garmin Sat Nav was found to have been taken. Cripps Lane, Steyning

A property in Cripps Lane was broken into between 6:30pm and 9:45pm on Monday 14 March. Steyning 1503 14/03 The offender gained entry by forcing open a kitchen window.

A quantity of silver and antiques were stolen.

Where are your officers this week?

For your local officer’s contact details, information about local events and meetings and actions being taken regarding your priorities click on your ward below (Ctrl + click to follow the link):

(Please note that the way the areas below are named reflect how they are shown on the Sussex Police website and are set by the Home Office and cannot be changed).

Rusper, Colgate and Nuthurst