Warning after safe gang target pubs

By James Mortlock

LANDLORDS have been warned about a gang of tricksters that have been targeting pubs in an attempt to steal their safes.

Conmen managed to get away with a strong box containing cash from the Prince of Wales pub in New Street, Sudbury, while an accomplice claiming to be searching for a ring lost by his girlfriend kept staff busy.

Police have now revealed that two men had been disturbed in the Black Boy pub in Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds, under an hour before the Sudbury incident.

The men were hanging around in the area of the pub where the safe is located between 9.45am and 10am on Friday.

When challenged by a member of staff, they claimed to be there to fix something - but when that was checked and found to be false, the pair fled.

Nothing is believed to have been stolen by the men, who were both described as white, 6ft to 6ft 2in tall and aged in their mid 20s.

It is being linked to the incident at the Prince of Wales pub, which happened at 10.50am on Friday when a man entered the pub and claimed he was looking for a ring that his girlfriend had lost the previous evening.

A short while later the man left and it was discovered that a safe containing cash had been stolen from an upstairs room. It is thought the man distracted staff while at least two people entered the premises and went upstairs.

The first man was described as white, aged about 20, 6ft tall and of medium build, with short dark hair and wearing a navy zip-up top and jeans.

A police spokesman said the two incidents were being linked and added: “Police are urging landlords to be particularly vigilant and report any suspicious activity around their premises immediately.”

Anyone with information about either incident should contact Suffolk police on 01284 774100.

james.mortlock@eadt.co.uk