Police release e-fit of suspected burglar

This is an image of a suspected burglar striking across Lichfield, stealing garden tools from sheds and outhouses and using them to break in to homes.

The city has fallen victim to a spate of break-ins, with a burglar or burglars striking 17 times in the past two months, stealing laptops, iPads, mobile phones and jewellery.

Officers believe one person is behind "a number" of the crimes.

And the force has now released an e-fit image of the suspect from the latest burglary. He is described as having a dark complexion and being of either Eastern European or mixed ethnicity. He was aged in his early 20s, 5ft 9ins tall with a medium build and had short dark hair.

He wore a black jacket and a backpack. This computer-generated image has been pieced together from eye-witness accounts of the latest Lichfield burglary, in Fecknam Way at around 10pm last Monday.

During the crime, the thief knocked two elderly victims to the ground as he fled the scene.

The couple had earlier discovered the man inside as they returned home. Neither suffered serious injury but they were both left shaken.

It is believed he got into the rear garden by climbing a 6ft locked gate before using tools from the greenhouse to break into the house. Several items of jewellery were stolen.

Police are urging residents to be extra vigilant after the spate of break-ins. The majority of the thefts have taken place in the Dimbles Lane and Gaia Lane areas of the city. A further three have taken place in Queen Street, Pentire Road and Lichfield Road, in Armitage.

Insp Darren Oakey, Lichfield district police team commander, said he believed he same individual is responsible for a number of burglaries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dc Ed Rowe at Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 931 of August 20 or call Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.