FIVE men from Hampshire have been accused of using explosions to steal from a string of cash machines across Hampshire, Surrey and Dorset over a period of six months.

David Hughes, 29, of Street End Close near Hartley Wintney, is one of the five charged with the offences of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life, after 14 ATMs were targeted between August 14, 2019 and January 27, 2020.

The quintet allegedly hit eleven of these in just five weeks, before returning to hit a further three in January of this year.

Police say that the crew attempted to rob ATMs across Southampton, Waterlooville, East Hampshire, Farnham, Fareham, Brockenhurst, Eastleigh and Bournemouth, as well as stealing three cars on separate occasions - a BMW X5 in Southampton, an Audi A5 in Hedge End and an Audi V8 Quattro in Farnborough.

As well as Mr Hughes, four other men have been charged.

Jesse Matthews, 19, of Coniston Road, Bordon was charged today at Basingstoke Magistrates Court with the same offences.

Cameron Chivers, 22, of Lydgate Road, Southampton, Colin Golding, 24, of Reading Road Farnborough and Adam Jones, of Little Abshot Road, Fareham had previously been charged.

All five have been remanded into custody pending a date for trial at Winchester Crown Court.

The crew are charged with incidents at 14 ATMs:

  • Stop ‘n’ Shop, Sholing, Southampton on August 14, 2019
  • Tesco in Lavender Road, Waterlooville on August 14, 2019
  • Cashzone, Headley, East Hants on August 22, 2019
  • Santander, Petersfield, East Hants, on August 25, 2019
  • Costcutter Store, Farnham, Surrey, on August 25, 2019
  • HSBC, Park Gate, Fareham on August 27, 2019
  • Coop, Godalming, Surrey on August 31, 2019
  • Premier Convenience Store, Brockenhurst, on September 3, 2019
  • Post Office, West End, Eastleigh, on September 3, 2019
  • Co-op Store, Stubbington, Fareham, on September 9, 2019
  • Tesco Express, Bishopstoke, Eastleigh , on September 11, 2019
  • Co-op, Spring Road, Sholing, Southampton on January 20, 2020
  • Santander, Burgess Road, Southampton, on January 20, 2020
  • McColls in High Howe in Bournemouth on January 27, 2020

Additionally, they're charged with conspiracy to steal in relation to three burglaries:

  • On November 25, 2019, at Wilton Gardens, Southampton, where a number of items were stolen including a BMW X5.
  • On August 26, 2019, at Birch Road, Hedge End, where an Audi A5 was stolen.
  • Overnight between July 6 and 7, 2019, at Comfrey Close, Farnborough, where an Audi V8 Quattro was stolen but later recovered.