Woman loses tooth in attack after disturbing burglar, e-fit issued: Leigh-on-Sea
(SS9 - Tuesday, 6 December, 2011)

Police have released an e-fit of a burglar who punched a woman in the face after she disturbed him inside an unoccupied house in Leigh.

Residents of Moor Park Gardens in the town were aware that one of the houses in their street was unoccupied and were keeping an eye on it.

At 6.40pm on Saturday, November 12, 2011 a 56-year-old woman heard a noise from the side of the premises and went to investigate.

She discovered that the lounge window at the front of the house had been forced open.

She called out but got no response and then saw the intruder open an internal door and appear in the porch.

The outer porch door was locked so, being unable to escape, the intruder ran back into the house.

The woman dialled 999 and, as she was on the phone to the police, the intruder climbed back out of the open window and ran towards her.

He punched the woman hard in the face causing her to fall back against a wall.

She lost a tooth in the attack and sustained swelling and cuts in and around her mouth.

The suspect ran to a new shape black Ford Focus car parked nearby and drove off at speed, with no lights on, in the direction of The Fairway.

The suspect is described as:

• an olive skinned male
• 5ft 8ins tall
• aged 30 to 40
• jet black hair which was sticking out of the front of a ‘tea cosy' hat
• stubbly goatee type beard
• wearing a dark jacket or jumper, and a checked shirt, possibly with some yellow on it

As the suspect assaulted the woman and made off, he said two unknown words to her that were either in a foreign language or heavily accented English.

Pc Simon Laurie of the Southend CID Target Team is investigating. He said:

"It is rare for burglars to be confronted by members of the public inside addresses. It is even rarer for them to deliberately assault people.

"I appeal to everyone to look at the e-fit of the suspect which is described as a good likeness, although the bottom part of the beard should be less bushy.

"Local residents will be aware of the increased number of burglaries in the area and I am keen for members of the public to continue to call us if they witness suspicious behaviour of any kind, not just that involving a Black Ford Focus car.

That car may have been disposed of by now, so any suspicious activity needs to be brought to our attention as a matter of urgency, no matter how minor you may think it is."

You can contact Pc Laurie on 101.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police Force: Essex

Address:
Moor Park Gardens
Leigh-on-Sea
ESSEX
SS9