Sugarplum Furry
Well-Known Member
From the BBC news website.
Horses seized from travellers in County Durham have been stolen from an enclosure in a night-time raid.
The 40 animals were rounded up by police on Thursday after being kept illegally on a site at Hunwick near Bishop Auckland.
They were taken to a secret location in Northumberland, but on Saturday night thieves cut through a fence and escaped with 26 horses.
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
The horses, along with 12 sheep, were originally confiscated by Durham Police after reports of animals straying on to a busy road.
They had been kept at the site for over a year, but attempts to trace their owners proved unsuccessful.
Horse put down
Fifty police officers were involved in the joint police, RSPCA and Trading Standards operation to seize the animals early on Thursday.
The animals were taken to the "green yard" in Northumberland, and their owners urged to come forward.
But two days later, thieves cut through the fence and led horses across fields before loading them on to vehicles and driving away.
About 35 animals were taken during the raid, but police have since recovered 10. One horse suffered a broken leg and has been put down.
A 21-year-old from Darlington, a 59-year-old from Spennymoor, a 19-year-old and 52-year-old, both from Bishop Auckland, have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and bailed pending further inquiries.
Horses seized from travellers in County Durham have been stolen from an enclosure in a night-time raid.
The 40 animals were rounded up by police on Thursday after being kept illegally on a site at Hunwick near Bishop Auckland.
They were taken to a secret location in Northumberland, but on Saturday night thieves cut through a fence and escaped with 26 horses.
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
The horses, along with 12 sheep, were originally confiscated by Durham Police after reports of animals straying on to a busy road.
They had been kept at the site for over a year, but attempts to trace their owners proved unsuccessful.
Horse put down
Fifty police officers were involved in the joint police, RSPCA and Trading Standards operation to seize the animals early on Thursday.
The animals were taken to the "green yard" in Northumberland, and their owners urged to come forward.
But two days later, thieves cut through the fence and led horses across fields before loading them on to vehicles and driving away.
About 35 animals were taken during the raid, but police have since recovered 10. One horse suffered a broken leg and has been put down.
A 21-year-old from Darlington, a 59-year-old from Spennymoor, a 19-year-old and 52-year-old, both from Bishop Auckland, have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and bailed pending further inquiries.