Detectives investigating the murder of a pensioner in Aldham are releasing details of two guns believed to have been stolen around the time of his death.
We believe they may have been sold on and are asking anyone who has been offered them for sale or knows of their whereabouts to get in touch.
Donald Ralph, 83, was found deceased at his home in Halstead Road shortly after 1pm on Tuesday 29 December.
From our enquiries, we believe he died in the late afternoon of Monday 28 December.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Egerton said: “Don was a registered firearms keeper and we have established two guns are missing from his home.
“From the information we have, we believe they were stolen and may have been sold on, possibly in Colchester or Hastings.
“I am asking anyone who has seen the guns, or been offered them for sale, to please contact us.”
The guns are:
A self-loading Ruger Rifle 22 RF, serial number 354-66591.
A Browning shot gun 12 bore over/under, serial number 419 13 MW.