MASKED ram raiders targetted an independent Hampshire car business causing thousands of pounds worth of damage and making off with four cars - and it was all caught on CCTV.
Ridgway Cars, in Budds Lane, Romsey, has been left picking up the pieces after it was hit just before 10pm on Tuesday, September 12.
Owner Chris Ridgway told the Advertiser they are still dealing with the aftermath - and he shared the clear CCTV in the hope of helping the police bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mr Ridgway, 38, said: “Four cars were stolen. We found one the next day and a few days later found another in the car park of B&Q.”
Three of the cars taken were Mercedes and one was a Kia, totaling more than £47,000.
He said: “It's shocking, nothing like this has happened to us before. We have CCTV and alarms but we need more physical security like barriers. But they can be rammed.”
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Mr Ridgway said that he had noticed an increase in vehicles being stolen across the town.
“It's very prevalent, it's happening more and more often. They target Romsey as it is affluent and there are back roads linking it to Southampton,” he added.
In April, Romsey resident Sarah-Marie Baker’s Range Rover Sport was taken from outside her home by thieves. It was found 10 days later on Siskin Close, Lordswood, Southampton.
At the time, she told the Advertiser: “I just hope that the people who are doing this are found, but the fact that I was one of seven that night, and you hear so many stories you don’t know what to believe.”
The business has been at its current location for four years.
Mr Ridgway said: “We have doubled in size in the last year and we were on course for an excellent month, but this has put us back a bit.”
As well as the cost of the stolen cars, he estimated that the cost of the damage to the unit was £15,000-£20,000.
A police spokesman said: "We were called at 10.54pm on 12 September to reports of a burglary at Ridgway Cars, Budds Lane, in Romsey.
"Entry had been forced to the site and four vehicles were stolen.
"Two have since been located and recovered by police.
"Anyone with information can call 101 with reference 44230372595."
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