POLICE seized a top-of-the-range Bentley during a series of raids at homes and businesses in Bournemouth and Christchurch yesterday.

The car, which has a 2017 number plate and costs more than £165,000 new, was loaded onto a recovery lorry in St Peter’s Road, Bournemouth during the morning.

Seven people have also been arrested by police in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said: “Officers executed warrants at four residential addresses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Southampton, and three businesses premises in Hinton Road, Wimborne Road and St Peter’s Road in Bournemouth, on Monday.

“The warrants are in relation to an ongoing fraud investigation involving the sale, supply and installation of loft insulation.

“Seven people have been arrested and are assisting officers with enquiries.”

Those helping police are:

  • A 42-year-old man from Christchurch, who has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud

  • Two men aged 34 and of Bournemouth, who have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud

  • A 33-year-old man from Poole, who has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud

  • A 36-year-old woman from Bournemouth, who has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud

  • A 60-year-old man from Liverpool, who has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud

  • A 30-year-old woman from Bournemouth, who has been arrested on suspicion of concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property

The warrants were executed at at NRG Installs Ltd and and Thermal Home Insulations, trading from premises previously traded from by Airtight Renewables Ltd.

Police were seen working inside Thermal Home Insulations in the Burlington Arcade throughout the day.

Witnesses said a number of boxes containing documents had been removed from the business and stacked into vans.

Licensed search officers, who are routinely called in to help with low-risk terrorism investigations and missing person searches, were also seen combing the building.

Police arrived in three vans, only one of which was marked with the Dorset Police livery. A police dog was seen working in an underground garage.

One witness told the Echo he had seen scores of officers going into the business.

“I asked one of the officers what was happening and he just said it was under control,” the man said.

“They were bringing out loads of boxes. There’s definitely something big going on.”

A man who watched as the Bentley was towed away said: “They took a man away and now they’re taking the car too.

“It’s obviously a big investigation. They’ve been there all morning.”