Has the ‘Night Watcher’ struck but once more?

A violent burglar dubbed the Night Watcher is suspected of carrying out a new raid – this time seizing 50 jewels worth £2million after breaking into a woman’s home and pistol-whipping her.

The shotgun-wielding thug, who has robbed a dozen wealthy homes of more than £10million in a series of terrifying raids, is still on the run despite a six-year-old long manhunt by police.

Detectives are now investigating whether the Night Watcher could be responsible for a shocking attack on a woman in her home last month.

The victim was struck in the head with what looked to be a handgun, before the prolific masked robber fled with 50 items of jewellery including diamond-encrusted earrings, a sapphire pendant and watches.

The thief broke into the sprawling home on a private road in Sevenoaks, Kent, just before 4pm on June 21.

Sources told The Sun that police are exploring whether the robber could be the Night Watcher – whose reign of terror dates back to 2006. 

The Night Watcher has targeted homes in Kent, Surrey, London, Berkshire and Sussex. Police did not link him to the raids until 2016 – some 11 years after he first started.

Wealthy victims include the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, who were attacked in their West Sussex stately home, Goodwood House, in 2016. The aristocrats were tied up and forced to hand over heirlooms worth £700,000.

Police have now identified several CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the latest robbery.

On the morning of the raid, the suspect travelled by train from Staplehurst to Sevenoaks with a bike.

After the robbery, he hopped on trains between Hildenborough, Tonbridge and Marden and was later seen cycling in Staplehurst.

The suspect was wearing a face mask, a cream baseball cap and trainers with red soles. He was also wearing a high-visibility top when cycling. 

Detective Inspector Maxine Harris, who is leading the investigation for Kent Police, told The Sun: ‘The man we want to locate would have stood out as he was wearing a mask, was in possession of a bicycle and appeared overdressed on what was a warm day.

‘I believe that despite his face being covered someone will know him and I am urging anyone who may have seen him or recognises him to call us immediately.

‘Whilst it is possible the man has strong connections to the Staplehurst area, we are not discounting that he may live outside of Kent. He should not be approached.’

Investigators believe the Night Watcher could be a former soldier using military training to carry out the attacks without being caught.

Police had not spoken about the Night Watcher since 2019 after fearing he had escaped abroad, before linking the fugitive to four more crimes earlier this year – three reportedly taking place in Kent and one in London.

One of the attacks is said to have taken place in the capital in 2021, leaving two women hospitalised after he inflicted injuries upon them.

The incident took place on the Keston Park estate in Bromley, South East London, according to the Mirror, while the other offences took place in the Tonbridge area in Kent, one occurring in 2020, one in 2021, and the third in 2022.

He began his campaign targeting homeowners in the South East in 2006 but it was not until 2017 that police linked the individual cases.

The Night Watcher is known to spend weeks hiding in the grounds of his target addresses, noting every move of his potential victims, and during his crimes knows who will be at home and where in the property valuables and safes are located.

He strikes at night, ambushing owners with a shotgun and his face hidden under a balaclava. Victims are then beat-up and tied together with plastic cable ties while their homes are ransacked.

The most high-profile case was in January 2016 when he left the Duke and Duchess of Richmond tied up in their home as he robbed them.

The noise of the break-in had woken up the Duchess, who went to investigate, before the robber pushed her back against the bedroom door.

When the Duke tried to rescue her, the burglar hit him on the head with a ‘blunt instrument’, causing an injury to his ear.

The pair, left ‘devastated’ by the attack and theft’, were only released when a member of staff arrived for work the next day.

Amongst the precious items stolen was a ring King Charles II – an ancestor to the then Earl of March – gave to a favourite mistress and an 1820 diamond tiara worth around £400,000.

Several high-value watches, including a Rolex and Girard-Perregaux, were also taken, along with emerald, diamond and sapphire rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

Susan Morris, then 61, whom the Watcher attacked in November 2017, feared she would be raped or killed during is attack at her £3.5million Surrey home.

She sat at her computer when the robber broke in yelling ‘I want the jewellery, take me to the safe’.

Ms Morris was left with a broken jaw and lost a tooth as the Watcher beat her and bound her hands with plastic cables.

The victim said previously: ‘When he was hitting me with the gun pointing at me, at that moment I did think, ‘this is it, it’s all over’.’

Police previously said they thought the items had been stolen to be flogged overseas but none had surfaced.

Another incident took place in Sevenoaks in Kent in November 2016. Police then spotted a pattern of offending, linking the same person to robberies in Kingswood, Surrey, Maidenhead, Berkshire and at Goodwood House, West Sussex, two years earlier.

Regarding the most recent crime spree, Kent Police told the Mirror it was investigating a series of five burglaries. The force said they took place between November 2016 and January 2022.

On each occasion a force spokeswoman said a lone offender threatened victims before trying to steal cash and high value possessions, such as watches and jewellery.

Victims reported being threatened with firearms as well as being restrained with cable ties and ropes.