Stolen horse attempt - EAST SUSSEX

greenlivery

greenlivery

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Today we have had 6 men in a huge white van come down onto our yard, rip down our CCTV and unlock all the stables. My brother went out and called the police, so the van left, but as soon as he went in the house they came back, backed down the drive and got out, he scared them off and they left, but not I'm terrified about going to sleep, putting my horses out etc.
When we were mucking out today someone came into the paddock and took one of the horses rugs off, we found it in the field when we brought them in, I wonder if this is connected. I went to a Sussex horse watch meeting a few days ago but didn't expect anything to happen to my own horses.
Very scared, can't sleep! Don't really know what to do!!
Police told us not to put ourselves in danger, and to install more lighting :S
 
Oh my god, that's awful, I'm not surprised you can't sleep.
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Have you got dogs? If you do is there anywhere they can sleep so they hear noises outside better?

I always think small dogs for the noise and big dogs for the business!

Keep an ear out and keep your phone by your bed.

Arseholes
 
Get a couple of Alsations and chain them up and put clear signs indicating they are there. Keep the kennels in full view of the front gate.. Keep a security light on all the time, barbed wire on the front gate. Phone a security firm in the morning and ask what they would advise.
Don't know what else to suggest.
 
How awful, just out of interest where are you in East Sussex? You maybe close to me...

Hope they don't come back a bother you! I don't blame you for not being able to sleep. If you have dogs I woud make sure they can hear everything!

I do really hope for your sake these guys leave you and your horses in peace over christmas.
 
I bet, are you on your own?? Shame that your dog is usless. Rye, your not far from us. Why can't these people leave other people horses alone? What is the matter with people
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Fingers crossed for you and your horses that nothing happens
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Eventer96
I'm close to you hun, I'm in Beckley village, near Rye. They were in Dallington today according to the police. I'm not alone, thank god!!
 
The most important thing is to get your horses freezemarked on their shoulders and also microchipped as soon as possible. Take a photo of each of your horses from the front, back and both sides. Pull ot some mane and tail of each of the horses and label them and keep them for DNA identification purposes. Register each of your horses with the National Equestrian Database (NED) and include photos, Freezemark and Microchip details.
 
Oh dear, really hope they don't pay me a visit. We are in Magham Down, near to Herstmonceux Science Centre. At least you know it's nothing personal. Doesn't ease the worry though.

Please keep me updated, if anything else happens near you I might have to get extra padlocks on the gates
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Do padlock your gates hun, the other horses in the village have had weird things going on too. The field down the road had a load of weird marks sprayed outside the gates and side entrance, and our neighbours had the top doors of the stables shut for no reason today, and our horses had rugs taken off in the fields - maybe a coinsidence but after what happened tonight I'm not so sure. These guys need to be caught. They have no fear! They ripped down our cctv signs!! I mean thats a big '**** you' really isnt it!?
We are staying up and have shot guns, police on call etc etc, extra security, but I'm REALLY frightened.
Our horses are microchipped, and we have blood stored from one. But I doubt the thrives know that!
 
You have done the best you can to be prepared. Will double padlock the gates. Did anybody managed to get the number plate of the white van? What type of van was it ect. ect. Will look out for weird happenings that could go on and will send an e-mail round my friends ect. to warn them about it.
 
bloody hell you must be going out of your mind with worry invest in 2 trained guard dogs for yard and tie them up good luck hope they stay away they need locking up
 
These people need to go to jail! I'm going to be up all night and I'm exhausted, we have had to block the yard up with cars and can't risk turning them out tomorrow, when can we relax again? Christmas is going to be stressful!!!
 
Surely they're safer turned out?! In their boxes you could just put a head collar on them and walk off with them! At least they'd have to catch them in a field! xxxxx
 
if we turn them out its closer to the woods which backs onto access, we are going to turn them out in the garden so we can watch them I think, and keep them locked up, and get some new alarms!!! but for now, nobody is sleeping, its 24 hour watching them, so scary, these guys don't seem to care, they just want our horses no matter what!!
 
We are still being vigilant! countless mugs of coffee later! We have hard lots of dodgy noises but no actual attempts just yet. looks like it will be another night on watch tomo! xx
 
As I said above get your horses freezemarked on their shoulders without delay. Microchipping is not enough as a Freezemark can be seen and read by anyone where as a microchip is hidden.
Also get all your tack marked with your post code and your trailer/lorries marked with the post code in large letters on the roof.
If they can ripped down your cctv then it is far too low down. It needs to be at least 20 feet high and be of high definition specification so that it can be used in evidence.
 
Freezemarking is a great idea, but pretty costly for 6 horses and takes time to arrange, so in the time between being able to do that we are looking at alarm systems.
 
If you do organise freezemarking we are quite close to you and would happy to have them come to our yard afterwards and do ours. I want my two done. Just thinking that a bulk job may get them out sooner. PM me if you want to double up. Both of mine are chipped but I think freezemarks are now needed.

PN - I spoke to the Police at the same Horsewatch meeting and asked them about CCTV. They said that there is no such think as 'evidence quality' CCTV and so long as you have a date and time code any CCTV can be accepted as evidence - although you do need to be able see images clearly
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. Oh - and they also said that you need to display CCTV signs otherwise you are infringing the privacy of the offender (!). We have CCTV but I guess if they want your property, nothing will stop them.

GreenLivery - I hope you have a peaceful night.
 
Greenlivery you are right it does take time to organise freezemarking - I think mine took 6 weeks - but well worth the peace of mind! I have had 3 actual break ins and two further attempts at my yard which is rural and isolated. It honestly is worth the peace of mind speaking from experience. I understand your worry!
 
If you call Freezemark and explain the problem and that you have a nunber of horses to do they might be able to squeeze something in

Paint all your rugs with a postcode, mark everything on the yard with indelible pen or paint with post codes.

Do not rely on dogs as security, there is plenty of history of free running dogs on farms and yards being poisoned or doped.
 
how horrid. i know its not the same but some goats were stolen down the road from us and now we are making sure if the horses are in someone is home.

Careful with your dog/dogs as well if these people dont seem to care, then your dogs are also at risk. Our oversized lab got beaten when we were burgeled a few years ago and still hasnt recovered. vets said a smaller dog would have died
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Hope they catch these people...have a camera at the ready!
 
Its so scary, I don't think we will be sleeping for weeks, lets hope these people get caught soon. Horses are in and I'm watching them through the window. Poor things only had a quick blast in the snow this morning, but I cant risk them being out
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That is so scary. I have nothing to add but just praying that they get caught and that you can have some peace. Thinking of you
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We have new security tonight, but have had a smaller white van creep past the house at least 5 times today, police won't come out unless we see it again, but its dark and snowing! :S
Thanks for the support guys, be extra safe with your security xx
 
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