Four men and a woman were arrested at dawn on January 28 in connection with a series of cash machine thefts during which explosive gas was used to try to break into the machines.

There were 12 incidents in Hampshire and Surrey between August 14, 2019, and January 19, 2020 – including at Santander in Petersfield on August 25 last year.

A total of 150 Hampshire Constabulary officers were involved. Taken into custody were two Southampton men, aged 22 and 29, two Farnborough men, aged 24 and 25, and a 33-year-old Farnborough woman. They were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to cause explosions.