Burglars batter Hove man during break-in

Two burglars left a man from Hove with a black eye and a loose tooth after hitting him with a baseball bat during a break-in.

The burglars forced their way into a property – a block of flats in Portland Road, Hove, at the junction with Hogarth Road – at about 10.30pm on Saturday (14 September).

Inside the victim’s flat the men threatened the occupants – a man and a woman – with violence.

They forced one of them to put laptop computers, a camera, £1,500 in cash and a large amount of DJ equipment into suitcases.

One of the burglars struck the man with a baseball bat while the woman was uninjured but shaken.

Sussex Police said: “The suspects left carrying the two suitcases containing the stolen property.”

The force is appealing for witnesses to the aggravated burglary.

Detective Constable Brad Lozynski said: “Both victims were shaken but thankfully not badly injured.

“The first suspect is described as a white man, tanned appearence, around 29 to 30, 5ft 8in, stocky build, with short dark brown hair. He was clean shaven with a round face and had a small scar on his forehead.

“He was wearing a dark coloured hooded top and carrying a crowbar.

“The second suspect is described as a white man of similar age, around 6ft, of skinny build and with short light brown hair. He was also clean shaven and had a pointed face.

“He was wearing dark coloured hooded top carrying a wooden baseball bat.

“Did you see two men around 10.30pm on Portland Road carrying suitcases?”

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.