‘Night Watcher’ burglaries: What we know so far about a series of violent multi million pound raids

Alexandra Richards30 January 2018

A violent burglar dubbed “The Night Watcher” is believed to be behind a series of multi-million pound armed raids on wealthy homes across southern England.

Detectives believe that the culprit could be a “highly professional” soldier who previously served in the armed forces due to the thief’s meticulous research and use of extreme violence.

So far, the violent thief has stolen millions of pound in jewellery and valuables.

Among those targeted were the Duke and Duchess of Richmond who were forced to hand over £700,000 worth of heirlooms during a raid on their Goodwood estate in Sussex.

Police found DNA evidence at the scene of one of the raids but have not been able to trace it to any other offences.

Here is everything we know about the suspect so far:

Police are hunting a 'professional' armed burglar, pictured here at a house in Maidenhead
PA

How have police described him?

Victims of the violent burglaries have told police that the culprit was a man.

Surrey Police described the lone raider as white with a stocky or muscular build. He is said to be about 6ft tall with a southern English accent.

He has been known to wear a black balaclava when carrying out the thefts.

Detective Inspector Dee Fielding said the raids involved meticulous planning
PA

Does he have an armed forces background?

Officers said the suspect's level of confidence, athletic ability and the use of a sawn-off shotgun, cable ties and extreme violence made them think he could be a “highly professional soldier”.

It was the meticulous nature of the burglaries that led officers to link several burglaries together.

The thief has carried out seven raids in total
PA

Police said: “We do not believe this to be the work of an opportunist burglar, but someone who has specialist knowledge and skills - possibly ex forces or from a similar background due to the way he has behaved and the circumstances of each incident."

Victim Susan Morris, 61, who was targeted by the so-called 'Night Watcher' in October 2017, said: “The way he hit me, I think he has been trained on how hard to hit someone to not knock them unconscious but to frighten them."

Violent crimes

The burglar has been known to carry a sawn-off shotgun when carrying out the thefts.

Ms Morris said: “He came towards me and I realised he had a sawn-off shotgun and he grabbed hold of me, he was holding me the whole time of the burglary and never let go of me."

She also recounted how the burglar had physically beaten her. She suffered broken jaw, lost a tooth and suffered bruising to her face in the assault.

Victim: Susan Morris said she thought 'this is it' while being attacked
PA

Police believe that the burglar has carried out seven burglaries across the Home Counties since 2014.

Detective Inspector Dee Fielding from Surrey Police said that the raids have occurred every six month, possibly when the offender has run out of money.

In a three-year period between November 2014 and October 2017, the thief, who has left little forensic evidence, has carried out seven raids - two in Kingswood, Surrey, and others in Maidenhead, Berkshire; Chichester, West Sussex, Sevenoaks, Kent, Maidstone, Kent, and Virginia Water, Surrey.

Are the attacks believed to be planned?

Due to the nature of the burglaries, police believe that the thief stakes out houses for several weeks before an attack in order to establish the comings and goings of its occupants.

He is also thought to work out where valuables are kept.

Detectives discovered CCTV footage which appears to show the thief staking out a property for days and weeks prior to carrying out the raids.

He thought to enter properties through doors which he had identified as being unlocked at certain times.

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