Dorset Police received a report at 4.52pm on Monday 1 December 2025 from the ambulance service of the sudden death of a woman aged in her 80s at an address in Higher Blandford Road, Poole.
Officers attended and while inside the address they noticed signs of a possible burglary.
A cordon was put in place at the scene to allow enquiries to be carried out to establish the full circumstances of the death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.
An investigation was launched into the death and following enquiries, officers arrested five people on suspicion of murder and burglary – a 32-year-old man from Verwood, a 30-year-old man from Wimborne, a 16-year-old boy from Romsey, a 22-year-old man from Wimborne and a 21-year-old man from Alderholt.
They have all been released on police bail as enquiries continue.
Following further investigative work, officers have made an additional arrest – a 17-year-old boy from Wimborne has been arrested on suspicion of murder and burglary.
He has also been released on police bail.
The six arrests have been made to assist officers in gathering as much information as they can, while providing legal protection to the individuals.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55250176741. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online using its website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
