Police in appeal following thefts from hotels

The man is being sought in connection with three incidents at hotels across the city over the past two months and police last night appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.

A number of items have been taken in the raids including bank cards, mobile phones and laptops.

Yesterday a spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “The first offence took place on February 18 at Oulton Hall Hotel, Rothwell Lane, when the suspect is believed to have entered a staff only area and taken numerous items including bank cards and mobile phones from two handbags.

“He is then thought to have entered another staff area of the attached Claret Jug Golf Centre where a HP Elite laptop worth around £2,500 pounds was stolen.”

In the second incident on March 5, a suspect matching the same description, is believed to have entered Weetwood Hall Hotel, on Otley Road, around 4.20pm and taken two laptops from a conference room.

The latest incident took place on Sunday at around 12.40pm within an office area of the Holiday Inn on Cavendish Street, Leeds.

A number of bank cards and a mobile phone was taken from an employee’s handbag.

A man, described by police as being a white man with short fair hair, a gaunt face and a distinctive broken nose, who was wearing a green combat jacket with a dark hooded top beneath has been captured on CCTV at Oulton Hall, at Oulton, Leeds. Yesterday police urged anyone who recognises his description to come forward and get in touch.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC James Carter at the Rothwell Neighbourhood Policing Team via: 101. Alternatively, information can be left anonymously and in confidence by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.