Detectives investigating an aggravated burglary at a property in Rickinghall are renewing their appeal for witnesses and issuing a photograph of one of the offenders.

A VICTIM of armed raiders managed to catch one of them on camera, it has emerged.

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And detectives hope the image taken immediately before the drama unfolded at the house in The Street, Rickinghall, near Bury St Edmunds, will help them bring the gang to justice.

The residents’ ordeal began at about 8.50pm last Thursday when a group of five men went into the property and brandished knives taken from the kitchen.

One was a large black man who was around 6ft tall, the second was a large white male and there were three younger looking white men. It is possible that one of the offenders was wearing a white puffa-type jacket.

The black man was captured on camera by one of the occupants of the house as he was seen breaking into the property.

Police are issuing the photograph in the hope that someone may recognise him and get in contact with them.

No-one was hurt but the occupants, an elderly male and female and male in his early 30s, were left extremely shaken up. It’s not thought anything was stolen in the incident.

It is the third occasion the property had been targeted following two further incidents at the same property earlier in the week.

The first happened on January 21 at about 8pm when the residents were disturbed by noise.

When one of the occupants he went to investigate he saw three males running down the stairs of the property. He followed them but lost track of the group in a nearby churchyard. A quantity of cash, a lap-top, an air rifle and fishing equipment were all taken in this incident.

The second incident happened just two days later at about 1.30am when two men, one of which was described as a white male aged in his 20s of slim build with short dark hair wearing a dark top and trousers and the second described as a white male of slim build also in his 20s, tall and wearing a light grey hooded top, hammered at the front door demanding entry purporting to be police. On this occasion when challenged by the male resident they fled the scene.

Anyone who has any knowledge of the incident, saw anything suspicious during the times stated or recognises the man from the photograph should contact Dc Laura Hicks at Bury St Edmunds CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.