Police have launched an investigation after three beach huts were torched and 30 others were broken into at Hengistbury Head.
The incident, which happened overnight on Friday, February 5, has caused widespread shock.
Beach huts at Mudeford Sandbank, which offer amazing views over to Mudeford or out to sea over the sand dunes, regularly fetch around £300,000 and are highly desirable.
Picture by Stephen Bath
In July of last year, a beach hut on the spit with uninterrupted views of the Isle of Wight to the front and Christchurch Harbour behind, sold for a record £330,000.
A bidding war broke out over the wooden hut, listed for the same price as a five-bedroom house in Hull.
Four potential buyers put in offers on the 12ft by 10ft hut - two of them without even viewing it.
And it sold for £5,000 more than the asking price.
Picture by Jeremy Mayes, Echo Camera Club
The huts have no mains electricity or running water and shower facilities are in a shared communal block.
Cars are banned from the spit which has to be reached by land train, ferry or on foot.
There are about 360 beach huts at Mudeford, all of which are privately owned.
Picture by Steve Hawker, Echo Camera Club
Its isolated position is what attracts wealthy people to buy the cabins which can sleep up to six people each.
The owners have to pay annual rates to Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council of about £4,500 a year.
Owners can only sleep in the huts from March to October but can visit any time of year.
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