Police revisit stabbing scene

Gardeners should check if bamboo poles are missing

Police are returning to the scene of a stabbing in Surrey to gain more information about the attack which left a father critically ill after he confronted two burglars.

Gerald Prechenfried, 40, was knifed when he chased the burglars from his home in Feltham Avenue, East Molesey, on 6 February at 2345 GMT.

On Thursday, a week after the attack, more than 20 officers were returning to the scene hoping to jog the memories of local people who may have witnessed something suspicious.

Father-of-two Mr Prechenfried is still critically ill in Kingston Hospital following the attack which came on his 40th birthday.

This was a particularly violent attack on a man defending his property and is being treated as attempted murder

DCI Steve Rodhouse

He had confronted the burglars after they pushed a bamboo pole through his letterbox to steal his car keys.

He then chased them towards Hampton Court railway station and was stabbed in the face and body.

Police say they are treating the case as attempted murder.

They also want gardeners to check if bamboo poles have been removed from their properties.

The first man is described as white, aged 35, 5 ft 8 in tall, stocky, bald, weighing 14 to 15 stone, with a swarthy complexion, no facial hair and sticking-out ears.

Serious offence

The second offender is said to be white, aged 35 to 40, 5 ft 10 in, weighing 12 stone, with short dark hair and a pale complexion.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Rodhouse said: "This was a particularly violent attack on a man defending his property and is being treated as attempted murder.

"These offenders would have arrived home late at night, have been agitated and quite possibly covered in blood.

"We are appealing to anyone with knowledge of this extremely serious offence to come forward."