CCTV image issued by Suffolk Police in relation to Haverhill theft

Police are issuing a CCTV image of a man they would like to trace in connection with a number of distraction thefts across the county and warning businesses to be vigilant.

The first three incidents occurred between 11.30am and 3pm on Friday, November 15 at town centre businesses in Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.

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.

To read more about this go HERE

A fourth incident was reported on Saturday 30 November in Ipswich, where at around 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.

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 on 101, quoting reference number 69218/19.

Contact the police via its website or by THIS email address

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999