Stolen Land Rover driven into Havant shopping centre during ram raid and set alight

The suspect reversed the vehicle into the ATM in the town centre, before driving to Springwell Place in Havant, where it was set alight.

Neighbours were left frightened after witnessing the car on fire feet away from their homes.

The incident happened just between 2.30am and 2.45am on Monday.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire police said: '˜The suspect was described as wearing a high-vis jacket with a hood attached, light blue jeans and black top underneath the jacket. 

'˜Extensive damage was caused to the car.'

Police said the ram raid is not being linked to the similar incidents at the Co-op stores in Denmead, Cowplain and Clanfield earlier this year. 

It is not clear whether the suspect managed to take any money.

A resident who witnessed the fire but wishes to remain anonymous, said: '˜I woke up to a weird noise and walked to the front of my house and it looked like it was foggy outside.

'˜I opened the door and I could see my neighbour dousing a car down that was well alight and a few feet from the building, and has left charring on the wood pillars.

'˜It was very scary that something like that happened so close to home but the fire crews were absolutely excellent in arriving quickly.

'˜This is a gated community usually but there is a problem with the electrics at the moment so they were unlocked.

'˜I think it was a very selfish act whoever dumped the car and lit it so close to our homes. We are very lucky as it could have been an awful lot worse.'

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting 44180450736.