Police want to trace this man after mobile phone thefts at businesses in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Haverhill and Ipswich

Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they would like to trace in connection with thefts of mobile phones at businesses in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Haverhill and Ipswich.

The first three incidents were between 11.30am and 3pm on Friday, November 15.

At a business in Station Road West, Stowmarket, a man entered the office and engaged staff in conversation and after he left a Samsung mobile phone was found to have been stolen.

At a company in Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, a man entered the office area and distracted staff, following which an iPhone was stolen from a desk.

In Haverhill, a man went into an office, in High Street, and asked for information to be translated and in the process leant over a desk and stole an Apple iPhone.

A fourth incident was reported on Saturday, November 30 in Ipswich, where at about 11.40am a man entered a restaurant at Anglia Retail Park, off Bury Road, and placed a piece of paper over the victim’s iPhone whilst asking for help with translation.

After he left the victim realised her phone had been taken.

Officers would like to speak to the man pictured in the CCTV about these incidents.

He is described as being around 5ft 11in tall, well built, wearing dark-coloured bottoms, a black jacket and a black hat.

A police spokesman said: "Customer-facing businesses and their employees are reminded to be vigilant to this type of offence and assure that any personal possessions, or valuable items in areas accessed by the general public, are kept in a safe place and out of reach."

Anyone who believes they recognise the man pictured in the CCTV, or who has any information about these incidents, is asked to contact the Incident and Crime Management Hub, quoting reference number 69218/19.

Visit www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/existing-report-update