Sussex Police Hunt Commuting Criminal

20 January 2015, 15:36 | Updated: 20 January 2015, 15:41

Detectives from five police forces are hunting for a man who travels around the South East breaking into homes.

Officers believe Simon Knights, 38, uses the rail network to move from town to town dressed smartly in a jacket, shirt and trousers, committing burglaries and then getting the next train home.

It's thought he took more than £5,000 worth of jewellery in Sussex burglaries, including in Oving, Barnham, Eastergate, Burgess Hill and Southwick.

Police believe that Knights is stealing cash and jewellery from homes to fund his gambling addiction, selling off any jewellery and spending the cash in betting shops, casinos and on fruit machines.

Knights is suspected of being responsible for more than a dozen break-ins in Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, London and Essex since June.

A reward for £2,500 is on offer for anyone who has information that leads to his arrest and conviction.

Detective Inspector Dave Wardley-Wilkins, of Sussex Police, said: "We need to speak to Knights about eight offences in June in Sussex but have not been able to trace him so far.

"We believe that he uses the rail network to get around so people might see him on trains along the south coast, possibly smartly dressed. He has links to Essex so could have returned there but we need anyone who sees him to contact us as we do not know where he is.

"People might also see him in betting shops or casinos so we would urge anyone who visits them to keep an eye out for him.

"If you have any information about where he is or where he has been, please get in touch."

Charlton Athletic fan Knights is white, about 5' 8" and has ginger hair and blue eyes.

CCTV footage recorded on 16 June at 10.45am shows Knights at Barnham Station.