A SERIAL burglar is believed to be travelling around on trains targeting homes.

Simon Knights is being hunted by officers investigating a series of burglaries.

Police believe he is moving from town to town by train, dressed smartly in a jacket, shirt and trousers, committing burglaries and then leaving on the next train.

The 38-year-old was jailed for four years in 2007 after carrying out more than 150 burglaries to feed the crack cocaine habit he had at that time.

Police believe he is now stealing to fund a gambling habit, selling off stolen jewellery and cash and spending it in betting shops and casinos.

They are offering a £2,500 reward for information that leads to his arrest and conviction. He is suspected of stealing jewellery worth more than £5,000 from homes in Southwick and Burgess Hill as well as Oving, Barnham and Eastergate, all near Chichester.

He is also wanted on suspicion of stealing jewellery from homes in Kent, London, Hampshire and Essex, all since June.

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.”

Knights, pictured above, is white, about 5ft 8in, with ginger hair and blue eyes.

CCTV footage recorded on June 16 at 10.45am – which you can view at theargus.co.uk – shows Knights at Barnham Station.

Anyone with information should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk, quoting serial 840 of June 16 or call 101. Alternatively call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.