Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Officers investigating reports that bottles of rum worth approximately £50,000 were stolen from a lorry at Fleet Services have charged two men.

We were called at 12.30am yesterday (29 May) to a report of suspicious circumstances relating to a van at Fleet Services on the M3 southbound.

Officers deployed to the area and located the van on the M3 southbound, near J5. Officers safely used a stop stick and two of the van’s tyres were deflated.

The van was searched and officers located approximately 2,300 bottles of rum worth an estimated £50,000. All items, including the van, rum and bolt croppers, were seized.

Barry Calvert, 33, of Windsor Gardens, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has been charged with conspiracy to steal from a motor vehicle and aggravated vehicle taking.

Dale Hever, 30, of Smallwood Gardens, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has been charged with conspiracy to steal from a motor vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking and fraudulently loan a registration mark / document.

He has also been charged with driving otherwise than in accordance with licence and using a vehicle without third party insurance.

They are due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates Court today (30 May).