Essex Police appealing for witnesses after one charged following South Ockendon burglary

A resident was assaulted when two people forced entry to their home in Aire Drive

Author: Ellie CloutePublished 29th Jun 2023

Essex Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after an aggravated burglary in South Ockendon, where two people forced entry to a property in Aire Drive and assaulted a resident.

A release from Essex Police has described one of the suspects as "white, 5ft 10ins, of stocky build with short blonde hair and stubble. He was wearing a black tracksuit with short sleeved top. He is described as having a tattoo of boxing clothes on right bicep and he was carrying a large knife."

26-year-old Aaron Keenan of Stifford Clays Road, North Stifford, has been charged in connection with the aggravated burglary.

He has been charged with possession of a offensive weapon in a public place, aggravated burglary, and threatening a person with a blade or sharply pointed article in a public place.

Keenan is remanded in custody and is due to appear at Basildon Crown Court on July 21.

Anyone with CCTV, dash cam or any footage or information is asked to contact Essex Police.

Detective Natalie Roberts, who leads the investigation, said:

“As part of our investigation, we have identified two people who were in the area just before the burglary, who may have vital information for us.

“We want to identify those two potential witnesses and would ask them to come forward.

“The first is a white woman runner who was in the Bonney Gate Park or wood area in Daiglen Drive at around 6am that day.

“We believe a man approached her before she ran off. We believe that there may have been three men in total.

“We’re also trying to locate a man who was walking a dog, believed to be a poodle breed.

“It may be that they have information that will help us to identify the two suspects who we believe were in the vicinity earlier and may have been seen by this man and woman.”

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