Woman reveals £50,000 family Tesla had to be written off after thugs posing as police officers smashed it up

A woman has revealed how her family’s £50,000 Tesla was written off by a group of thugs posing as police officers who smashed it up while ramming into a van parked nearby.

Paola Bolletta-Bailey says her five-year-old Model 3 was crushed when a Land Rover repeatedly struck a nearby van outside a B&Q store in Farnborough, Hampshire, as part of an attempted cannabis hijack last month.

Footage filmed just meters from the incident showed a black vehicle with flashing blue police lights ramming repeatedly into a white Peugeot van in front of shocked onlookers at the retail park.

Ms Bolletta-Bailey says her husband’s dream car, the Tesla, has since been towed away and written off by insurers. They are now desperately awaiting news of an agreement.

Paola Bolletta-Bailey says her five-year-old Model 3 was crushed when a Land Rover repeatedly crashed into a van

The impact of the incident causes irreparable damage to the vehicle’s internal structure and electrical connections.

The suspension and wheel alignment were also smashed, requiring the engine and battery to be removed.

While disappointed that the car couldn’t be repaired, Tesla owners say their vehicles are easily written off due to high levels of body repairs.

She said: “It was scary when my husband called to say he and the other shoppers were locked inside the B&Q store as a precaution because ‘there was something going on in the car park’.

“Of course it was very sad and upsetting for us because of our car. I think we should thank the fact that nobody got hurt. The fact that they were being filmed by the public didn’t seem to bother them.

“It was parked there by my husband… he was at the store and those guys in the white van must have parked the car right there. He parked right in front of the exit. It wasn’t even a secluded parking lot

‘Thank goodness nobody was in the car, my husband was in the shop and saw the last Smash ‘live’. The insurance took the car away and we still haven’t received a statement.’

Hampshire Police said officers had seized a large quantity of cannabis from the back of the Peugeot around 5.35pm on December 6 following the attempted raid.

Footage showed a black vehicle with flashing blue police lights ramming into a white Peugeot van

The footage shows a fake police vehicle plowing into the van, damaging other nearby vehicles

They also stressed that the three men in the Land Rover were not police officers and detectives have launched an investigation into the incident.

Ms Bolletta-Bailey added: “It is true it is a wonder no one was run over as it is usually very busy with shoppers which is one of the main car parks for the city of Farnborough.

“Luckily we weren’t in the car and our dog wasn’t left in the car … I’m not sure it would have made a difference to these people because judging from the footage they only had one thing on their mind: open the door of that white van.” .

“We are still very angry about what happened and hope that other people who were able to make videos that day will continue to contact the police.”

The footage shows a fake police vehicle plowing into the van, damaging other nearby vehicles.

At the time, there were two men in the white van, one of whom was almost trapped when trying to escape between the vehicles.

Meanwhile, the three thugs in the Land Rover continued trying to get into the van before also giving up and fleeing the scene.

Another vehicle and parking bollards in front of the hardware store were damaged in the incident.

Chief Inspector Emma Hart, District Commander for Hart and Rushmoor, said: “Three men who were in the Land Rover reportedly posed as police officers. The Land Rover had blue lights on the vehicle.

“We would like to emphasize that the men in the vehicle were not police officers and detectives have opened an investigation.

“Following the collisions, the men got out of the Land Rover and tried to gain access to the Peugeot but were unsuccessful and fled the scene.

“Officers were at the scene and a large quantity of cannabis was confiscated from the back of the Peugeot.”