4 days ago
Man arrested after cross-county police chase to recover stolen cash machine
A man has been arrested following the theft of a cash machine from a Co-op store in Hampshire.
Hampshire Police, along with officers from Dorset and Wiltshire, engaged in a cross-county pursuit in the early hours of Monday morning, after the ATM was stolen from the shop in Chandlers Ford.
Officers from Hampshire's Roads Police Unit, Dog Unit and District Policing teams were deployed to track down the vehicle involved, which was found to be a stolen Audi RS4.
It was tracked using ANPR systems and Dorset Police were able to deploy a stinger, to try to stop the vehicle as it entered the county.
The driver was eventually stopped on a narrow track, and then attempted to evade police on foot.
The dog unit, along with help from a drone, then tracked him to a nearby outbuilding, where he was detained.
Police confirmed a 23-year-old man from Wimborne was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, failing to stop, and driving a vehicle dangerously.
In a statement, Hampshire Roads Policing said: "After stealing an ATM in a burglary in Hampshire, the occupant thought using fake number plates would throw us off the scent.
"RPU, ARV, a Dog Unit and district policing team officers deployed, and the vehicle was sighted heading out of Hampshire.
"With help from our colleagues in Wiltshire and Dorset we continued to get sightings of the vehicle, allowing us to be waiting as the car travelled towards Wimborne.
"A pursuit ensured and our colleagues from Dorset Police were poised with a stinger to puncture the cars tyres...
"Officers were quickly guided in to arrest the driver for multiple offences. The stolen ATM and vehicle were also secured."
