Two Charged Over The Theft Of Thousands Of Cigarettes In Sussex

Wednesday, 5 January 2022 06:44

Police have charged two people following an investigation into a series of burglaries across Sussex in which thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes were stolen.

The businesses were broken into in November and December 2021, by intruders who stole a large quantity of cigarettes each time.

Then at around 4am on Thursday, December 23, police received reports of an ongoing break-in at a Post Office in Mill Lane, Portslade.

CCTV footage showed four people in the store, who left with cash, alcohol and cigarettes worth around £10,000.

On searching the area, police found a van that they believe was linked to the break-in, parked in Downsland Crescent, Hove.

A search of the vehicle revealed items stolen from the Mill Lane Post Office.

The vehicle’s occupants, 32-year-old Emily Cooper of no fixed address and 27-year-old Reuben Thompson, of George Williams Mews in Portslade, were arrested and both charged with six counts of burglary and two counts of attempted burglary.

Thompson was further charged with criminal damage, using threatening/abusive words/behaviour and possession of a Class B drug (cannabis).

The pair were remanded in custody pending a later court date.

Detective Inspector Simon Morgan said:

“While we are pleased to have two suspects in custody in relation to these offences, the investigation is still very much ongoing to track down the other perpetrators.

“We are appealing to the public for any information which could help identify them.

“The break-ins are predominantly understood to have taken place in Brighton and Hove, but have also been reported in East Sussex and as far west as Chichester.

“Anybody who has any information which could help with the investigation can contact police online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Burrow.”