Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak with following a series of thefts from pubs across three counties including one at Ely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ1pJ4kviuI

East Cambridgeshire Police had already linked the incident at the Kings Arms in St Mary’s Street Ely on January 8 to a similar offence at the Rose and Crown in Market Place, Hitchin on November 10 thanks to an eagle-eyed Facebook user.

The Ely Standard reported the link on January 21 with Sgt Phil Priestley of East Cambs Police saying: “We put the image out to the public of an incident at the Kings Arms and we had a call from someone who had seen a similar picture following an incident in Hitchin.

“We now firmly believe that the two crimes are linked. We have now been able to put it out to neighbouring forces that we have someone who is mobile committing these type of offences, so we can have a co-ordinated effort to catch the person responsible.”

Hertfordshire police now believe the same person to be responsible for two more thefts.

The incidents being linked are: At around 1.40pm on Saturday, September 26, a theft occurred at the Green Man pub in Market Hill, Royston, Hertfordshire. On this occasion a man went into the pub and made his way up to a flat upstairs. He took a small amount of money from the lounge area before leaving the premises.

Between 10.50am and 11.20am on Tuesday, September 29, a man is believed to have entered the Froth and Elbow pub in High Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire and made his way upstairs where he stole a quantity of money.

At about 10.15am on Tuesday, November 10, a theft occurred at Rose and Crown in Market Place, Hitchin, Hertfordsire. The offender went into the premises via a side door, went behind the bar and stole hundreds of pounds which had been left on the till.

At about 10.45am on Friday, January 8, 2016, £1,300 was taken from The Kings Arms in St Mary’s Street, Ely. The offender entered the pub through a side door before going into the dwelling part of the property, taking the money then leaving through the same side door. £700 of the cash was for charity which had been raised through a pub quiz, and the remaining £600 was to pay staff wages.

Officers would like to speak with the man pictured in connection with the incidents. If you can help identify him or have any information which could assist officers, please contact your local force via the police non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or through their anonymous online reporting form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will never need to go to court.