Hove burglary suspect faces court

A burglary suspect from Hangleton is due to appear in court charged with breaking into 12 homes in Brighton and Hove.

Gregory Hawley, 20, of Poynings Drive, Hove, is being brought before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 17 September.

He faces 12 charges of burglary, two of stealing from a vehicle and one of resisting arrest.

He was arrested at an address in Bedford Square, Brighton, after a tip-off from a member of the public on Sunday (25 August).

Sussex Police put up a £500 reward for information leading to Hawley’s arrest in connection with a string of offences which have taken place in Hove and Portslade since October last year.

The offences are being linked as part of Operation Magpie, the force’s crackdown on burglars.

Last week posters were put up in buses belonging to Brighton and Hove Buses in the hope that passengers who might see him would dial 999.

Within days the force received the tip-off that led to his arrest.

Three other men were also arrested along with Hawley – a 21-year-old, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old.

They were suspected of helping an offender and were questioned before being released on bail until Friday 20 September.

Hawley is accused of crimes in which the victims lost items worth thousands of pounds, including laptops, mobile phones and iPods.

A police spokesman said: “We would like to thank members of the public and Brighton and Hove Buses for their help locating Hawley.”

Anyone with information about burglaries can call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Anyone who sees a burglary taking place is asked to dial 999.