Eastleigh: Arrest after ram-raids at Co-Op and Morrisons shops

Three shops were hit last night and in the early hours of this morning in the Eastleigh and Nursling area. 

At Morrisons Daily on Hiltingbury Road, Chandler's Ford, entry was gained and cigarettes were stolen just after midnight. 

Morrisons Daily on Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh was then hit with entry being gained though nothing was taken. 

READ MORE: Co-Op and Morrisons Daily stores smashed up in ram raids

Co-Op on Nursling Street, Nursling was then targetted at 12.30am. No one gained entry and nothing was taken. 

Now a 15-year-old boy from Southampton has been arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary and causing criminal damage. 

He remains in custody at this time. 

All three incidents are being treated as linked at this time. 

Damage caused to Morrisons Daily, Chandler's Ford (Image: Timothy Edgley)

Detective Inspector Timothy Sivarajah said: “We fully appreciate that the incidents overnight in the Nursling and Eastleigh areas will have caused concern for business owners and residents alike but rest assured that we have committed significant resources to ensure that each incident is thoroughly investigated.

“We continue to work at pace to investigate reasonable lines of enquiry as part of our investigations and ensure that we bring those responsible for committing such offences to justice.

“There will continue to be an increased police presence in these areas today as they carry out further enquiries into these matters – including extensive CCTV scoping and review, house-to-house enquiries and forensic enquires.

“However, we are working towards identifying any links to previous incidents – including those at the Welcome Co-op store in Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst and Morrisons Daily on Ringwood Road in Totton.

“Local officers will continue to work closely with local residents and business owners when a crime is reported to us; offering target hardening and crime prevention advice to prevent further criminality to local businesses and residents.

“The information that the local community provide to us – via reports made using the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website, by calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously - about suspicious incidents or crimes that are taking place are reviewed on a daily basis by our investigation teams and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

"This information is essential and gives us a rich picture around what is happening in the community and allows us to readily identify any trends of offences being committed.

"While you may not always see an officer on your local streets, this does not mean that we are not there – officers will be working in the background preparing to react swiftly, and robustly, to incidents which are reported into us.

“We remain committed to tackling these crimes across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We will always seek to pursue those responsible for causing the most harm in our communities, but we need the support of the public and for them to continue to report suspicious incidents or crimes to us. Only then can we take action and bring those responsible to justice.”