Hunt continues for man raiding homes since 2006

The burglar has been caught on CCTV during a Maidenhead break in

Detectives hunting a violent burglar who they believe has struck across south-east England for eighteen years say they are linking him to more crimes in Kent.

The man, who is believed to he an ex-soldier, stakes out expensive properties, getting to know their layouts, the occupants' movements and where valuables are kept, police say.

He has struck several times in Surrey since 2006, but he was also linked to crimes in Chichester, West Sussex and Maidenhead, Berkshire several years ago.

Kent Police - who have dubbed the man the Night Watcher - now say he may be behind more recent burglaries in Kent at isolated properties near Maidstone, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, the latest of which happened in January 2022.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "On each occasion a lone offender has 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."

Detectives have said they are looking for a stocky or muscular white man of about 6ft (1.8m), with a south of England accent.

Officers believe he may have military training, as he was able to use only one hand to restrain his victims with cable ties, even while they were struggling.

During some robberies he was described by police as "using unnecessary levels of violence". He carries a sawn-off shotgun.

The man broke Susan Morris' jaw and inflicted other injuries while burgling her home

Susan Morris suffered a broken jaw when the man attacked her while robbing her home in Kingswood, Surrey, in October 2017.

She described how he pointed a gun in her back, hit her head against a wall and dragged her across the floor by her hair while demanding she hand over more jewellery.

The hunt for the man is being led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.