OFFICERS are investigating the theft of a vehicle and a suspected ram raid at a discount store in Poole.

The frontage of Savers Health & Beauty in Ashley Road was badly damaged when a vehicle mounted the pavement and crashed into the metal shuttering on September 7.

The same evening, a van was stolen from outside a property in the area, which was found by the owner on Wednesday morning on a side road less than half a mile from the shop.

Police are looking into whether the theft of the utility van and the damage to the discount store are linked.

A police spokesman said: “Dorset Police received a report at 4.14am on Wednesday, September 8, that a van had collided with the shop window of Savers in Ashley Road in Poole.

“It is reported that the van drove away from the scene. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing. No arrests have been made."

Two hours later, officers then received reports of that a white Ford Transit van had been stolen from an address in Cromer Road in Poole.

“The vehicle was subsequently located damaged at around 11am on Loch Road off of Ashley Road,” the spokesman added.

“An investigation is under way into the report. No arrests have been made.”

Bournemouth Echo: The white transit van which was hotwired and stolen from outside a property in Poole was found on Loch Road with a number of scrapes to the exterior and smashed rears lights following an incident on the evening of Tuesday September 7

The owner of the vehicle, who lives in the Branksome area and wished to remain anonymous, has urged resident to be vigilant and to look out for anyone acting suspiciously.

She said: “We had our van stolen between 11.15pm and 11.30pm last night. We found it parked not far from our house and the Savers store.

“All the contents of the car were still there but it had been hotwired.

“There is damage to the side panel and the rear lights have been smashed. We don’t know if it is linked to the damage caused to the Savers store but the markings match.”

Bournemouth Echo: The damaged caused to the frontage of the Savers Health & Beauty on Ashley Road, Poole following an incident on the evening of Tuesday September 7 and faint tyre marks outside the store

A series of other incidents took place in the Upper Parkstone area as a garage on Florence Road was forcefully opened and a motorbike was reportedly stolen at around 12.30am.

“There is absolute mayhem going on around here – people need to be vigilant," added the owner of the van.

“It is just baffling. If they didn’t take anything, what were their intentions?

“I was livid this morning when I found the van wasn’t there but now I am just confused.”

Bournemouth Echo: The damaged caused to the frontage of the Savers Health & Beauty on Ashley Road, Poole following an incident on the evening of Tuesday September 7

Staff at the store said they were left shaken by the incident, with the store unlikely to open for at least a week.

A temporary store worker from the shop said: “I got a call at 7am on Wednesday morning from my manager to say that she had heard reports that someone had tried to get into the store.

“They must have been going at some speed to be able to cause that sort of damage.

“It has moved all of the shelving and tools that were close to the window right back inside the store and the seals around the front windows have been ripped off.

“People who do these sorts of things don't realise they have a big impact on people. To them, it is just a bit of fun.

“I grew up in Bournemouth and went away for a few years and came back a couple of years ago. In that time, this area in particular has changed a lot.

“This road in particular has got really bad.”

Contact police on 101 quoting reference 55210145138.