HORSE WATCH MESSAGES

Worcestershire Horse Watch is about welfare and security of horses and equipment. We depend on you, to depend on us, to provide the Police and RSPCA with the help they need to fight cruelty, abuse, and theft of horses, and the constant 'magpie' thefts of equine equipment.

What we see, hear, suspect together with up to date security measures, are the only weapons we have with which to beat criminals, and enable the return of stolen property to its distressed owner.

We regularly stop the unnecessary suffering of horses. This is achieved by various means. Often, we have no option but to report neglect, cruelty and abuse to the RSPCA and or the Police. Sometimes experienced and qualified Horse Watch Members offer preventative advice. (not all neglect and cruelty is intentional) and  there are occasions when abandoned, straying, or recovered stolen horses need bed and breakfast, or even longer accommodation. We can offer that facility.

By joining Horsewatch you will receive regular newsletters and will be alerted as soon as possible via the internet of equine crime across Britain. If your horse, tack or trailer is stolen Horsewatch members everywhere will be alerted. The more members Horsewatch has the better the information can be spread.
                                                     

 

       MARK ALL EQUIPMENT WITH SMARTWATER

http://www.smartwater.com/

08/03/2010

The following message is being circulated to Neighbourhood Watch in the rural area to the west of Droitwich and to Farm/Horse Watch across the wider South Worcestershire area.

Please note that we have had reports over the last few days of a number of outbuildings being broken into, plus two instances of electric fencing being stolen:

Chainsaw stolen from a shed in Sytchampton, reported 7th March, Incident Ref 144-S-070310

Barn door forced in Dunhampton, unclear if anything stolen, reported 6th March, Inc Ref 291-S-060310

Outbuilding broken into in Comhampton, reported 4th March, Inc Ref 42-N-040310.

Electric fencing and other items stolen from a horse's field in Dunhampton, reported 3rd March, Inc Ref 289-N-030310.

Electric fencing stolen from a sheep field in Dilmore Lane, Fernhill Heath, reported 4th March, Inc Ref 368-S-040310.

To those of you in the area, please report any useful information to the police call centre, via the switchboard on 0300 333 3000, quoting the relevant incident ref number above.

To those of you in the wider area with barns/outbuildings/electric fencing, please be mindful of the above and take any reasonable security precautions.
 

Rural Watch Message 1/12/2009

Dear all, ive searched the force systems to find any rural crime for you. There have been a couple of tack rooms broken into near to Droitwich and a few others force wide. However nationally I have to tell you that saddlery theft is on the increase with some very heavy property losses at some yards which run into thousands of pounds.

Some tack has been recovered but an owner cannot be traced as it isn't post coded or marked in any way which is really sad. If we are unable to identify it we have no option but to hand it back to the criminal as we cannot prove they have stolen it.  So please consider tack marking.

There have been some trailer thefts but nothing like he numbers recorded earlier in the year.  Copper wiring is in demand and so is scrap metal. There have been no new reported cases of tractor thefts. Farm gates both wooden and metal have been reported as stolen.

There was a report of an old pony being stolen from The Lenches, near Evesham. This pony has been found nearby and was rescued from a ditch by the Fire Service.

We are still having reports of manes being plaited as a precursor to identifying horses for theft. These incidents have not been confirmed and there is now some evidence to suggest this is a hoax. I also have to let you know that the email I circulated a few weeks ago about the pony being abandoned at the port in Hollyhead has also been confirmed as a hoax.  I did make some checks at the time and felt the information to be genuine but I was wrong. In future I will make enquiries directly with the force concerned. My apologies.

With best wishes, Gail.

WPC 3308 Greenhouse
Broadway Police Station
Tel 0300 333 3000 ext 3777
gail.greenhouse@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

 

17/11/2009

Horsewatch on behalf of Avon and Somerset Police

An incident involving a stolen horse has been brought to our attention based on the marking system the criminals used to steal the horse. The theft involved offenders 'marking' the horse is such a manner that it was identifiable by other group offenders by a simple glance. The horse, which was in a field with other horses, had its mane plaited (untidily), which the owner has disregarded as a prank played by kids.
The horse was stolen and was transferred to a field near Holyhead in readiness for a ferry to Ireland, however the horse was left in the field at Holyhead assumedly because the offender's realised that the horse was micro-chipped and therefore easily traceable by the custom officers. Horse owners be advised to take any incident involving your horse, (even something simple), as suspicious and to ring West Mercia straight away on 0300 333 3000. I must stress that to date; no reports of such nature have been reported within West Mercia.