A SINISTER jewel thief who terrorised wealthy homeowners in a £10million burglary spree is being hunted by cops.
The sawn-off shotgun-armed raider, dubbed the Night Watcher, has now been linked to four more raids by police – three in Kent and one in London – since 2019.
PA:Press AssociationCCTV images of the Night Watcher were released by police in 2018[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationInjuries sustained by Susan Morris after a raid by an armed burglar at her house in Surrey in 2017[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationThe thief uses cable ties to tie up his victims while he raids homes[/caption]
The man, who police think is a soldier, is said to have attacked two women during a robbery at their home on the Keston Park estate in Bromley in 2021.
The pair needed hospital treatment after the raid, according to the Mirror.
The other three robberies took place in the Tonbridge area of Kent in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The Night Watcher, who has been the target of a manhunt for six years, is now believed to have raided 17 homes dating all the way back to 2006.
Detectives think he stakes out the homes for days and sometimes breaks in before the robbery to check out the layout and discover where safes are.
The planning, ruthless efficiency and the fact he uses cable ties on his victims all point to a military background, police say.
His victims include former tennis champion Boris Becker and French ex-footballer Nicolas Anelka.
He has taken valuable jewellery – including a ring that once belonged to Charles II.
He previously struck in Kingswood and Virginia Water, Surrey; Maidenhead, Berkshire; Sevenoaks and Maidstone, Kent; and at Lord March’s Goodwood estate in West Sussex.
Lord March was smashed over the head with a blunt weapon after the robber climbed in an upstairs window. He and Lady March were tied up.
Night Watcher’s reign of terror
January 2006 – Leatherhead, Surrey
January 2009 – Weybridge, Surrey
September 2011 – Weybridge
May 2013 – Virginia Water, Surrey
November 2014 – Tadworth, Surrey
January 2015 – Maidenhead, Berkshire
June 2015 – Virginia Water
January 2016 – Goodwood, West Sussex
November 2016 – Sevenoaks, Kent
January 2017 – Maidstone, Kent
April 2017 – Virginia Water
October 2017 – Tadworth
February 2019 – Reigate, Surrey
August 2020 – Tonbridge, Kent
September 2021 – Tonbridge
October 2021 – Bromley, London
January 2022 – Tonbridge
“Officers are also continuing to work closely with other police forces, where similar burglaries have taken place.”
The raider, nicknamed for the way he stakes out his prey, also broke into Susan Morris’s home while her husband was out.
He broke her jaw and dragged her through the house by her hair.
Her husband returned to find Susan tied up in the bedroom of their Kingswood home.
In addition, millionaire Robert Stiff and family were raided in Kingswood.
The attacker kicked his pregnant daughter in the stomach before fleeing with jewellery.
A police spokeswoman said: “Kent Police is [investigating] a series of five burglaries between November 2016 and January 2022 where isolated properties have been targeted.
“It is reported that on each occasion a lone offender threatened victims in order to steal cash and high value possessions including jewellery and watches.
“Victims have been threatened with a firearm and restrained with cable ties and ropes.
“Inquiries have included extensive review of any CCTV, as well as a full forensic review of each burglary.
The Picture Library LtdLord March was smashed over the head with a blunt weapon[/caption]
AlamyThe Night Watcher previously struck at Lord March’s Goodwood estate in West Sussex[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
