Suffolk Horse Watch message

[TracingEquines]

19 June 2012

Suffolk Police are trying to trace the owner of a saddle and other horse equipment that has recently been recovered in Ipswich.

The saddle is a black leather 15” dressage style saddle and was recovered complete with stirrups and irons and a burgundy girth.

The other equipment includes a Shires Newmarket exercise blanket, a Shetland mint green coloured headcollar and leadropes.

Julie Dennis of Suffolk Constabulary’s Community Safety department said: ”Regretfully neither the saddle or the equipment carry any type of security marking such as a name or postcode which makes it very difficult to return the items to their rightful owner.

“All horse owners and users should take steps to mark and secure their property, and we would urge anyone noticing any suspicious persons or vehicles near stables or outbuildings to contact police. We can then pass information to businesses and individuals who are signed up to our HorseWatch scheme, to ensure this community stays safe.”

If you think this property may be yours contact DC Cara Spall at Ipswich CID on 101.

Crimes / Offences between 12th and 19th June 2012

Please note: other offences may have occurred during this period, however details cannot be disclosed as the victim has stated they object to publicity.

Location Great Blakenham (IP6)
Date Between 17:00 on 16/06/12 and 10:00 on 17/06/12
Crime Category Burglary - other building
Property Various items of horse equipment, Electric fence posts, Electric fence energiser, Horse rug
Additional information From insecure shed and field
Crime Reference ST/12/1715

[TracingEquines]

Crimes / Offences between 19th June and 11th July 2012

Please note: other offences may have occurred during this period, however details cannot be disclosed as the victim has stated they object to publicity.

Location Great Bradley (CB8)
Date Between 19:00 on 19/06/12 and 05:00 on 20/06/12
Crime Category Burglary - other building
Property 3 saddles - unknown brand synthetic, - brown leather Barnsby, - black leather Martin Wilkinson, - brown leather Martin Wilkinson, 4 leather bridles
Additional information Items stolen from tack room attached to stable block at, Entry gained by levering the door and splitting the frame.
Crime Reference HH/12/1308

Location Stradishall (CB8)
Date Between 18:00 on 25/6/12 and 08:00 on 26/06/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property Richardson Supreme double horse trailer - blue trailer with beige roof
Additional information Offenders have removed clamp from horse trailer using angle grinder before stealing the trailer
Crime Reference ST/12/1919

Location Hinton (IP17)
Date Between 22:00 on 28/6/12 and 06:30 on 29/06/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property Burgundy turnout rug - 5’6” purple and black striped pony sized headcollars x 4, Haylage x 25 bales
Additional information Rug was removed from pony whilst it was being worn!
Crime Reference LE/12/716

Location Creeting St Mary (IP14)
Date Between 09:00 and 18:15 on 02/07/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property Chain and lock to field gate
Additional information
Crime Reference ST/12/1919

Location Naughton (IP7)
Date Between 9/7/12 and 11/7/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property 3 bales of hay
Additional information Removed from farm premises
Crime Reference HD/12/1070

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Crimes / Offences between 16th and 29th July 2012

Please note: other offences may have occurred during this period, however details cannot be disclosed as the victim has stated they object to publicity.

Location Washbrook (IP8)
Date Between 22:00 on 16/7/12 and 09:00 on 17/7/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property double wooden gates - 6ft wide each
Additional information Removed from farm entrance leading to stables
Crime Reference HD/12/1109

Location Hepworth (IP22)
Date Between 17:30 on 20/7/12 and 07:30 on 21/7/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property Electric fencing energiser and battery
Additional information Removed from field perimeter
Crime Reference BR/12/513

Location Westerfield (IP6)
Date Between 21:39 on 25/7/12 and 10:00 on 26/7/12
Crime Category Burglary - other building
Property two leather brown horse head collars with brass buckles
Additional information Removed from insecure feed room
Crime Reference WO/12/1314

Location Ipswich (IP1)
Date Between 28/7/12 and 29/7/12
Crime Category Burglary - other building
Property Quantity of grooming equipment, buckets and horse clippers
Additional information
Crime Reference IW/12/2989

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Crimes / Offences between 7th & 21st August 2012

Please note: other offences may have occurred during this period, however details cannot be disclosed as the victim has stated they object to publicity.

Location Mendlesham (IP14)
Date Between 21:00 on 08/08/12 and 10:00 on 09/08/12
Crime Category Burglary - other building
Property Access to premises only
Additional information Entry gained to insecure feed room in stable complex. Tack box forced open and items strewn across the floor but nothing appears to have been taken.
Crime Reference ST/12/2334

Location Brandon (IP27)
Date Between 12:00 and 14:30 on 15/08/12
Crime Category Burglary - other building
Property Leather head collar and lead rein, riding hat in bag, grooming brush and comb
Additional information Padlock wrenched from door to gain entry to a secure stable during daylight hours
Crime Reference MH/12/1611

Stud farmers urged to step up security

Stud farmers across the region are being urged to improve their security after three studs were raided in three weeks.

The Newmarket Stud Farmers Association (NSFA) has advised stud farmers to join the Rural South Neighbourhood Watch and be aware of their stud security after studs in Snailwell, Exning and Cheveley were raided.

Three seven-foot-long cast iron rib rollers, thought to be worth around £4,500, were stolen from a barn in Red House Stud, off Landwade Road, Exning, between 9pm on Thursday, August 9, and 6.45am the following day.

Meanwhile, outbuildings at a stable yard in Short Road, Snailwell, were broken into between 6pm on Thursday, August 9, and 8am the following day. However, nothing was taken.

The incidents came two weeks after Cheveley Park Stud, in Duchess Drive, Cheveley, lost £25,000-worth of equipment and vehicles during a burglary.

Offenders targeted the stud between 5.30pm on Sunday, July 29, and 1.30am the following day. They stole a Nissan Patrol vehicle, an Ifor Williams trailer, a Kubota ride-on mower, two quad bikes, and a number of power tools.

Julian Wilson, chairman of the NSFA, said: “This is a continuing problem in rural areas whether it is oil theft, theft of machinery, quad bikes or mowers.

“It’s a question of people being aware and making sure their own security is as tight as possible, ensuring they use good padlocks, good home security and keep everything locked up.”

A security open day will be held on Monday, November 20, at the Newmarket branch of Ben Burgess, where farm and stud security will be showcased.

[TracingEquines]

7 September 2012

It is good to be able to say that there have been no equestrian related crimes of note to report this week, though it is sad news that two horses were killed at the Whitehouse junction on the A14 (Ipswich) in the early hours of Thursday 6th September - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-19504745

The incident was avoidable if the horses had been kept behind adequate fencing and the resulting event was distressing for all concerned. At the moment most people have plenty of grass and their equines have no reason to test the fencing to reach grazing on the other side; however now is the time to check your fencing as hedgerows start to die back to reveal gaps, broken rails and wire which will allow your horse to break out.

Please take some time over the next couple of weeks to check and make good any weak points in your fencing - don’t let the next accident involve your beloved horse.

Horses on the carriageway

Suffolk Police have, on average, 20 calls a week from members of the public reporting loose horses on the carriageway. Some of these cases involve a horse & rider parting company whilst out riding, however most loose horses are a result of them escaping from fields with inadequate fencing. A lot of valuable police resources are used to make highways safe by capturing the escapees and trying to identify the horses’ owners.

A landowner has a duty to ensure that animals kept on their land do not stray, and a claim for damages may lie against a landowner or tenant where it can be shown that the escape was caused by their negligence. Particularly as most fields are adjacent to public roads you could be held legally responsible for any accident injury or damages incurred by a third party, should your horse escape from his field and venture onto the road.

It might be argued that no fence is totally impenetrable, however a poorly maintained fence which has clear gaps and weaknesses, will expose a landowner to a claim in the event of an escape. What amounts to negligence will, in most cases, be decided on the facts of each case, but the practical approach to maintenance taken by the landowner will usually have a bearing on a court's decision. A patchy fence, or hedge with gaps, would certainly be cause for concern.

Prevention is better than cure. Fences and barriers should be regularly inspected, and a brief note of the dates and outcomes (such as appointments for fencing contractors or report to the landowner) should be kept as these could assist in defeating any negligence claims. Electric fencing has practical benefits, but extreme caution should be exercised if used as the primary barrier in the event of power failure.

If you rent land, although the field is not technically your property, it is still your responsibility to ensure that the fencing is adequate for the purpose for which it is used - this means all reasonable efforts must be made to contain the horses - the fencing must be of adequate height and condition around the whole boundary of the field and the gate and its fastenings must be secure.

For legal as well as safety reasons, check your fencing is safe for horses.

Editors Note:

If you call the police to report horses loose on the carriageway, please give as much information as possible such as the road number, the particular location on the road and the names of any nearby properties. It also helps if you know of any horse owners in the area.

Please also let us know when the horse and owner is reunited so we can close the event and avoid unnecessary dispatching of police officers. Thank you.

[TracingEquines]

Crimes / Offences between 4th and 30th September 2012
Please note: other offences may have occurred during this period, however details cannot be disclosed as the victim has stated they object to publicity.

Location Wherstead (IP9)
Date Between 04/09 and 08/09/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property car battery charger, solar panel, energiser unit
Additional information Stolen from field
Crime Reference HD/12/1355

Location Theberton (IP16)
Date Between 19:00 on 22/9 and 09:30 on 23/9/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property Two wheeled trailer - silver with blue and yellow reflective stickers carrying registration plate L58 NAL, Battery for fencing unit, Green Fenceman energiser unit
Additional information Stolen from field
Crime Reference LE/12/1159

Location Brandon
Date Between 17:35 and 18:00 on 23/9/12
Property Horses let out of paddocks and hay strewn around
Additional information
Event Number P1209230341

Location Bury St Edmunds
Date Between 18:30 on 30/09 and 07:30 on 01/10/12
Crime Category Theft – other
Property Orange Gallagher fencing energiser & battery
Additional information Removed from field
Crime Reference BU/12/2858

HOW NW Information re the theft of farm machinery and Suffolk Horsewatch Bulletin

If you see large agricultural vehicles being removed from land or being transported at night please take a note of the vehicles being used to effect the transportation. Registration numbers, make, model and any writing on the transporting vehicle are also invaluable pieces of information. Direction of travel is equally important. When safe and legal to do so please contact the police and inform them of your observations. The operator may ask why you feel the sighting is suspicious. Advise the operator that you have been told by the police that there is an increase of theft of agricultural vehicles and to report sighting and movement especially when seen at night.

The same applies to horse trailers. Most horse trailers are stolen at night. If seen treat the observation in the same way as for agricultural vehicles.

Not to be forgotten is plant machinery used for road repairs or similar. Again if you see such items on the move at night or being manhandled at unusual hours call the police. Thieves will work on the assumption that no one will be suspicious of "workman" working later at night especially if they are wearing the "right clothing". Far better to be enquirying rather than find out later that there was a theft!!

Remember wherever you are in England and Wales to telephone the police for non emergency calls dial 101

[TracingEquines]

It is disappointing to report that over the last couple of weeks there has been an increase in equestrian related crime; a property has been targeted twice over the period of ten days and there has been three thefts from equestrian properties in Debenham.

As the daylight hours get shorter and the dark descends earlier, please take some time to consider how secure your property is. Tackrooms can contain thousands of pounds worth of equipment so at the very minimum invest in good quality, heavy duty padlocks and check the soundness of wooden structures such as doors.

All your property should be marked as identifiable in some manner. We usually recommend your postcode, but any identifying mark is fine. Do you know the chassis number of your trailer, the make of your saddle, the serial number of the fencing energiser? If you don't know it now, how would you let the police know if it was stolen? Make a list of your valuables and their identifier - you can create your own inventory for FREE on www.immobilise.com

More in depth crime prevention information is available on the document entitled 'tackling equestrian crime' on the Suffolk Police website www.suffolk.police.uk

Crimes / Offences between 28th September and 17th October 2012

Please note: other offences may have occurred during this period, however details cannot be disclosed as the victim has stated they object to publicity.

Location Clopton (IP13)
Date Between 17:00 on 28/09 and 17:30 on 02/10/12
Crime Category Burglary - Other Building
Property Saddle, Generator, Electric fencing & battery, Strimmers x 2
Additional information Forced entry to barn
Crime Reference WO/12/1726

Location Clopton (IP13)
Date Between 18:00 on 11/10 and 09:00 on 12/10/12
Crime Category Burglary - other building
Property Saddles x 3, Bridles x 3, Wheelbarrow
Additional information Forced entry into tackroom. Crime is linked to earlier one at same property a 10 days previously - WO/12/1726
Crime Reference WO/12/1769

Location Ilketshall St Andrew (NR34)
Date Between 17:30 on 11/10 and 07:30 on 12/10/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property one metre tall plastic electric fence posts x 2
Additional information Removed from field
Crime Reference BE/12/1371

The following three crimes have been linked as they occurred in the same area around the same time.

Location Debenham (IP14)
Date Between 17:30 on 12/10 and 09:30 on 13/10/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property Red headcollar & lead rope
Additional information Stolen from stable
Crime Reference ST/12/3065

Location Debenham (IP14)
Date Between 18:30 on 12/10 and 09:15 on 13/10/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property Green Bayhill horse trailer
Additional information Offenders removed wheel clamp securing the trailer
Crime Reference ST/12/3066

Location Debenham (IP14)
Date Between 6/10 and13/10/12
Crime Category Theft - other
Property two galvanised fence posts and two galvanised gates
Additional information Removed from insecure storage area
Crime Reference ST/12/3079

[TracingEquines]

Crimes / Offences between 28th September and 17th October 2012
Please note: other offences may have occurred during this period, however details cannot be disclosed as the victim has stated they object to publicity.

Theft of fencing energiser and battery - Barningham (IP31)
Crime Ref: BR/12/813
Between 14:00 on 4/11 and 11:30 on 6/11/12 fencing energiser and battery have been removed from a field resulting in horses escaping onto the road due to the lack of power to the fencing.

Theft of Horse Trailer – Great Bradley (CB8)
Crime Ref: HH/12/2377
Between 22:00 on 02/11 and 05:00 on 05/11/12 offender/s have forced entry to secure yard and stolen a blue Ifor Williams horse trailer.

Theft of horse trailer wheels - Norfolk
We have also received a report just north of the Suffolk border that thieves targeted two horse trailers on a yard in Browston on Thursday 1st November. The offenders were unable to remove the trailers so they wound up the jockey wheel on one trailer and removed both front wheels and the spare. On the other trailer they just removed the spare.
None of the security on the trailers was damaged nor the locks on the gate, so it is possible the wheels were their specific target. A trailer in the yard opposite had the hitch tampered with but nothing was removed from it.

20 November 2012

Theft of trailer – Mendlesham (IP14)
Crime Ref: ST/12/3442
Between 23:00 on 13/11 and 08:00 on 14/11/12 entry gained to private stable yard by cutting the padlock off a gate and silver aluminium Ifor Williams tipping trailer stolen.

Theft of cash – Stonham Aspal (IP14)
Crime Ref: ST/12/3451
Between 21:00 on 14/11 and 06:00 on 15/11/12 offender(s) forced entry to outbuilding at an equestrian property, made an untidy search and stole coinage.

Attempted theft - Ousden (CB8)
Event No: P1211150181
Overnight on 14/11/12 an attempt was made to cut chain lock on stable yard gate

Theft of tack - Brandon (IP27)
Crime Ref: MH/12/2181
Between 22:00 on 14/11 and 06:45 on 15/11/12 offender(s) cut through padlocks securing a number of sheds on a farm and stolen a quantity of riding equipment from within. Equipment includes a large number of Western and English saddles and bridles and two horse rugs.

Theft of tack - Worlingham (IP28)
Crime Ref: MH/12/2217
Between 18:30 on 19/11 and 08:30 on 20/11/12 offender(s) stole a pair of riding boots from insecure tackroom.
This is one of 3 linked crimes in village all within 200 yds of each other

Theft of stable & equestrian equipment – Santon Downham (IP27)
Crime Ref: MH/12/2175
Between 22:00 on 13/11 and 09:30 on 14/11/12 offenders forced entry to shed situated within stable complex. Various mucking out tools stolen along with horse rugs and two electric fencing energisers

Theft of carriages and driving harnesses - Brandon (IP27)
Crime Ref: MH/12/2184
Between 15:00 and 18:30 on 14/11/12 offender(s) entered secure shed in field by forcing open wooden door and removed two horse carriages and three sets of driving harnesses.

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5 December 2012

Theft - Hacheston (IP16)
Crime Ref: LE/12/1410
Between 21/11 and 24/11/12 offender(s) have entered a secure tack room and stolen Jefferies show saddle (marked with identifier DN5 7HH) and a Sabre bridle and a set of clippers.

Theft of fencing energiser & battery - South Elmham All Saints (IP19)
Crime Ref: BE/12/1647
Between 14:00 on 3/12 and 08:00 on 5/12/12 offender(s) stole a fencing energiser and battery securing sheep on common land.

Attempted burglary - Troston (IP31)
Crime Ref: BR/12/912
Around 19:00 on 4/12/12 offenders entered a stable at a farm. Three males in dark clothing were seen to run from the yard to a vehicle after activating an alarm. Nothing was stolen.

24 December 2012

Burglary - Exning (CB8)
Crime Ref: NE/12/2230
Between 5.30pm Friday 14th and 7.15am Saturday 15th December offenders forced entry to three locked units on a stable yard on North End Road in Exning.
A number of saddles and other tack were stolen including a distinctive Australian stock saddle, pictured here.


(photo hosted on new TE gallery)

Burglary - Exning (CB8)
Crime Ref: NE/12/2221
Stables in Chapel Street, Exning were broken into between 10.30pm on Thursday 13 December and 6.15am on Friday 14 December. Entry was gained but nothing was stolen.

Burglary - Westerfield (IP6)
Crime Ref: WO/12/2114
Between 1st and 17th December offender(s) have entered an open barn adjacent to a field and removed fencing tools and small items of horse tack

Theft of horse trailer - Rede (IP29)
Crime Ref: BR/12/944
Between 8:30pm and 10pm on 18th December offender(s) have stolen an Ifor Williams horse trailer from a secure yard by cutting the gate padlock and removing the wheel lock from the trailer.

[TracingEquines]

11 January 2013

Good news!
Last November a number of sheds on a farm were broken into and riding equipment was stolen. The equipment included a large number of Western and English saddles and bridles and two horse rugs. It is good to be able to report some positive news that most of the tack has been recovered during the investigation of another crime. Enquiries are continuing.

Theft of electric fencing – Felixstowe (IP11)
Crime Ref: FE/13/7
Between 27th December and 2nd January offender(s) have stolen approximately three hundred yards of electric fencing has been cut and removed from a field.

Theft of fencing energiser and battery – Washbrook (IP8)
Crime Ref: HD/12/1925
Between 3pm and 10pm 25th December offender(s) have stolen a fencing energiser and battery from a paddock.
Details of the energiser as follows: Shepherd Fencing Unit, Model No ESD57, Serial No 0411078499

Theft of horse feed - Kessingland (NR33)
Crime Ref: LO/13/131
Between 4.15pm on 29th December and 8am on 30th December offender(s) have stolen around £50 of horse feed and a plastic feed bucket from a field.

Theft from horse lorry - Sutton (IP12)
Crime Ref: WO/13/13
On 30th December offender(s) have stolen antique hip flask worth £300 from a horse lorry while parked unattended and insecure in a picnic site car park.

18 January 2013

Theft of horse rug - Akenham (IP1)
Crime Ref: ST/13/171
Overnight between 23rd and 24th December offender(s) have entered a locked stable and stolen a purple Rhinegold horse rug. This was reported to the police on 15th January as initially the victim noticed the tackroom padlock had been tampered with but didn’t think anything had been stolen.

Theft of car batteries - Beck Row (IP28)
Crime Ref: MH/13/69 and MH/13/70
Overnight between 10th and 11th January offender(s) have stolen batteries used to power electric fencing from two separate locations

Theft of energiser - Creeting St Mary (IP6)
Crime Ref: ST/13/138
Between 1pm and 3pm on 13th January offender(s) has stolen a Rutland ESB55 fencing energiser.

Criminal damage - Stutton (IP9)
Crime Ref: HD/13/99
Between 10:30 and 11am on 17th January person/s have pulled off a ball cock mechanism to a mains fed water trough in a field, causing permanent damage and allowing the trough to overflow. The ball cock was discarded in the paddock a short distance away.