POLICE have arrested a 23 year old man from Bordon just days after thieves ripped an ATM from the wall of Lloyds Bank in Liphook.

The man was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit burglary and has been released from custody but remains under investigation.

It comes after thieves left a large hole in the front of the bank in The Square after a ram-raid in the early hours of Saturday (March 3).

Undeterred by the snow, police say the thieves used a forklift to smash through the wall of the bank and remove the cash machine at around 4.45am.

The forklift was dumped at the scene, adding to the scene of destruction on Saturday morning.

Firefighters from Liphook Fire Station are also believed to have been called in to inspect the “unstable structure”, and later tweeted their thanks to The Tea Room cafe for supplying them with teas and coffees.

It follows a string of similar offences in the area, with thieves also targeting ATMs at the Co-op in Rowledge, Bucks Horn Oak service station, Lindford Spar, Waitrose in Farnham and Haslemere railway station in recent months.

Anyone with information that might help the investigation is urged to contact Hampshire police on 101 and quote 44180081365.