POLICE are exploring a possible link between the recent ram raid at Halifax bank in Farnham and a burglary at the Hen and Chicken filling station on the A31 Alton Road.

It is believed a white Mini was used by the culprits of both crimes, and a spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary this week confirmed the force is working with “neighbouring forces” to establish whether the two are connected.

Hampshire Constabulary released a CCTV image last weekend of a man wanted in connection with a break-in at the BP garage on the A31 between Farnham and Alton (pictured).

Thieves made off with a haul of cigarettes in the early morning raid on the filling station next to the Hen and Chicken pub at Upper Froyle, just before 5am on Monday, July 30.

A police spokesman said: “It is reported two men using a white Mini Cooper forced entry to the rear fire door of the station and stole cigarettes.”

This chimes with a similar appeal by Surrey Police following the devastating ram raid on Halifax bank in West Street, Farnham in the early hours of Friday, August 17, when a spokesman reported: “A man made off from the scene in a white Mini heading off towards the Coxbridge roundabout.”

It came after thieves stole a JCB telehandler from the Farnham Memorial Hall construction site and used it to tear the ATM from Halifax’s Grade II-listed branch.

Commenting on a possible link between the two incidents, a spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary added: “We cannot categorically say that they are linked at this stage but we are looking into all possible lines of enquiry. We are working with our neighbouring forces as part of the investigations.”

Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101 quoting PR/45180088260 for the Halifax raid or 44180287278 for the Hen and Chicken burglary.