THREE people, including two from Bordon, were arrested on suspicion of burglary after an ATM was stolen from a convenience store in Aldershot.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed this week that “an 18-year-old from Bordon, a 25-year-old from Bordon and a 37-year-old of no fixed abode were arrested on suspicion of burglary and have been released under investigation”. They added enquiries are “ongoing”.

Ram-raiders targeted the Best One shop in Andover Way, Aldershot, in the early hours of Tuesday morning (December 3).

Officers later located both the van and the ATM in Plantation Way, Whitehill.

Police also confirmed this week the vehicle used in the theft “had been stolen the day before from a charity in Bordon”.

As reported in last week’s Herald, a white Ford Luton van was stolen from outside the Furniture Helpline warehouse in the early hours of Monday morning (December 2), between around 4am and 8.30am, according to police.

But David George, manager at the furniture charity, previously told the Herald that although the theft was captured on CCTV cameras, faces and vehicle registration could not be read.

The charity was also forced to turn down a number of donations on Monday morning, but went on to hire a lorry because of the “high demand”.

This week, Mr George told the Herald the police phoned on Sunday (December 8) to say they had “found the lorry” and that it had been “used in a ram-raid in Aldershot last week”.

It is reportedly “extensively damaged”, with Mr George adding they “don’t yet know if it’s a write off”. They are “waiting to hear back from the insurance company at the moment”.

He said: “I am feeling a mixture of happy that it has been found, but because they have said it is extensively damaged, I am thinking ‘how are we going to fix that’, as we are a charity?”

Mr George continued that during the colder months there is a “push to house homeless people”, and so it is their “busiest time of year”.

This means it is also the “worst time of year for this to happen” and has had a “dramatic impact on our ability to help people”.

“But the good wishes of all of you in our wonderful local community has helped lift our spirits, and we want to send you our heartfelt gratitude for your help and messages throughout this sorry episode,” Mr George said.

*Anyone who witnessed the theft of the ATM or the van the day previously should contact police on 101, quoting reference 44190434001.