DETECTIVES investigating 45 burglaries they believe are linked have released CCTV footage of a man breaking into a home.

Police are looking for help in identifying the man seen in the footage walking through the garden before breaking in the through the door.

The burglary in Kings Barn Lane, Steyning, on August 14 is one of the 45 burglaries that began in August in Storrington and have spread across the Horsham, Wealden and Lewes districts.

Victims include people who have gone on holiday and elderly residents whose homes have been targeted within days of them moving into care homes.

In each case the thieves broke into the homes through a back door or window, searched the properties and escaped with jewellery and other valuable items, police said. 

Officers believe the offenders could be cold-calling at homes to try to work out who is in and whether they are likely to have valuables inside, before returning later when the addresses are empty.

After the first in Storrington, the burglaries have also been reported in Coolham, Henfield, Steyning, Horsham, Pulborough, Bramber, Billingshurst, Kirdford, West Chiltington and Ashurst, as well as Petworth in the Chichester district.

The thieves have also targeted Durgates, Ringmer, Buxted, Lewes, Maresfield, Pell Green, Newick, Isfield, Cross in Hand and Uckfield in East Sussex.

Katy Wood, from the Operation Magpie team set up by Sussex Police to tackly burglary, said: “We urgently need the public's help to identify who is responsible.

"Don't let cold callers into your home and please report anyone acting suspiciously in your home or nearby to us immediately.

"Please consider fitting an alarm if you don't have one, fit timers to your lights so they do on when you are not there and make sure you leave your home secure.

"If you see someone behaving oddly at a neighbour's home call us - we would rather come out for a false alarm than miss the chance to arrest a burglar."

Residents are also encouraged to register their items on the property database www.immobilise.com.

If you have any information about burglaries email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.