POLICE have arrested a gang of six men after three high value luxury cars were stolen from a secluded spot in the heart of rural Hampshire.

A small business park has been the scene of a major police probe into what was understood to involve the theft of Rolls-Royce cars.

About 20 officers descended on Allington Manor Farm Business Centre in Fair Oak after being alerted to the car thefts in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Six police vans and two police cars lined the narrow Allington Lane as detectives and forensic officers gathered evidence.

A police cordon extending over an area of 50 yards was put up and a forensic tent was erected with markers laid down on the ground as part of the detailed investigation.

Outside the taped off area was a sign for a vehicle refurbishment firm called DVS Vehicle Refurbishment and a car valeting company called Get Smart.

It is unclear whether these were the firms that were targeted and neither were answering their phones yesterday.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: “We can confirm detectives are investigating the alleged thefts of three luxury vehicles, which were located in the Eastleigh area of Hampshire.

“Six men have been arrested on suspicion of these thefts, and remain in police custody for questioning.

“We're not in a position to discuss further details at this early stage of an investigation.”

A seventh man was also arrested during the operation but it is believed to be for a separate drug-related offence.

The spokesman also confirmed no one was injured in the incident.

News of thefts spread through the handful of businesses located in what is normally a quiet and secluded rural industrial estate.

 

A businessmen who operates a nearby unit, but did not want to be named, said: "I came this morning and there was police everywhere. There's all these rumours going about Rolls-Royces."

A neighbour, who has lived in the area for 16 years, said she was surprised as it was usually a quiet, low crime area.

But she said: "I heard movement in the middle of the night, around about 12pm. I heard lots of cars which is unusual at that time of night.”