Stolen Horses in Hampshire

[Daffodil]

Just seen this on our local newspaper website.

THIEVES have stolen 11 horses from a Hampshire field.

The animals were reported missing at the weekend when the owner of the two-year-old geldings returned home from a fortnight away. The herd, which is kept in a secure field near the Robin Hood pub in Durley, had shrunk from 34 animals to just 23. A search of the local area failed to find any sign of the horses.

Police are now investigating, and are searching for criminals in relation to the disappearance, which is being treated as a theft.

Members of the equine community are now warning each other to ensure their animals are kept secure.None of the horses, all of which were coloured except for one grey and one black, was branded or micro-chipped.

Anyone with any information about the horses' disappearance should call Hampshire Police on 0845 045 4545, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

[carys220]

Can't believe they left 34 horses unchecked for 2 weeks!!!

 

[vennessa]

Thats a fair amount to take in one go

We have a pony staying with us present - unusual circumstances

I took a look on the stolen horses website and was shocked to see so few as so many were supposed to have gone. When i have something stolen - includeing the horses i let the world know

Why are there so few on there?

 

[the watcher]

If this is true I am surprised they haven't made it on to the Stolen Horse Register, or the NFED site - so it does throw the report into some doubt

 

[BBH]

This must be what my parents were talking about last night, they passed by and saw loads of police with a stopped car. Better keep mine well hidden.

 

[carys220]

Have googled it and found nothing....which newspaper site was it on?

 

[carys220]

OK, found it:
http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/hamp...owners_away.php

I don't want to be mean, but if these horses have been stolen to sell on they will probably get a much better life. I still can't believe they thought they could leave them in a 'secure field' for 2 weeks with no-one checking on them!!! Did they have access to water?? 34 horses need a lot of water!!! This has made me really mad!!

 

[BBH]

Do you think they could be ' Pikey' horses and someone has 'liberated' them.

 

[carys220]

That was my first thought....34 mostly coloured horses in a field. But I think I would rather wait for confirmation on that before I pass judgement. As has been said before, true gypsies do mostly look after their horses but I suppose people who neglect their animals come from all walks of life.

 

[carys220]

I even thought that the RSPCA might have started taking them away as the owners hadn't been near in 2 weeks....but surely they would've informed the police.

 

[shoeey]

Thirty-odd two-year-old ponies in a field together - madness not to be checking them!

 

[BBH]

Heard last night from a source that they were not ' stolen' so no-one needs to worry.

 

[carys220]

....did the RSPCA take them or had they escaped??

 

[seabiscuit]

[ QUOTE ]
Heard last night from a source that they were not ' stolen' so no-one needs to worry.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am sorry but do you live in this area?! When the police are going round every yard warning people about 'eastern european men with a white van and red 4x4' and saying that horses have been 'stolen' in this area- YES stolen, I should think that they are telling the truth, so that is VERY worrying, thank you very much !!

 

[carys220]

Whoah there, did you read the rest of the posts? One would indicate that LHS does live in the area as their parents had previously driven past the field in question and saw the police there..

 

[Faithkat]

Interestingly, there is absolutely no mention of this incident on the Hampshire Police website . . . . (although the attempted theft of ATM machines at Morrisons about 100 yards from me is . . . .!!)

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/news/releases/

 

[ladsmyboy]

we had two men taking photos last week of horses in our fields at the college also a white transit van reg j50 btp man described with grey long hair combed back was taking photos on thurs this week and today in another field a man and a woman were approchaed by a lady who lives in the lane near the field phoned my friend that she spoke to them she said they were not english and drove off in silver car these two were taking photos on there mobiles if innocent why drive off when spoken two and more importantly why are they entering the fields they cant be scared to go near horses

 

[carys220]

This is just an example but, in Slovenia lots of people walk and ride through other people's fields, there is an element of trust that we ever so obviously lack in this country. Not saying that these 'Eastern Europeans' are completely innocent for going in the fields but they aren't from our cynical country and don't know how protective we are. Plus, it has been said many times but I will reiterate, it is not an offence to take pictures of animals that don't belong to you. When I go on holiday I take lots of pictures, especially if I see nice horses or goats

. The 'driving off when spoken to' could've been massively misinterpreted, and then we all know what happens to information when it is passed on.

The reg you have detailed above does not exist so if this is the actual reg(and it's British) then you should call the Police ASAP to report a false number plate. But other than that they have done nothing wrong.

 

[BBH]

Just to confirm I do live in the area, I have my horses between two yards, one in Curdridge and one in Wickham and no police have visited either yard to warn us, neither has anyone on either yard noticed strangers snooping around. So my feeling is police have to investigate if a complaint is made, but doesn't mean its genuine. At the end of the day its up to individuals to do as they see fit.

 

[the watcher]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Heard last night from a source that they were not ' stolen' so no-one needs to worry.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am sorry but do you live in this area?! When the police are going round every yard warning people about 'eastern european men with a white van and red 4x4' and saying that horses have been 'stolen' in this area- YES stolen, I should think that they are telling the truth, so that is VERY worrying, thank you very much !!

[/ QUOTE ]

Just saw this - n fact what most Police officers are doing is reassuring those who enquire that the whole white van/red pickup thing has got wildly out of hand, and that there is no evidence to connect these vehicles to thefts of horses, which incidentally haven't happened anyway.

Yes, the odd Neighbourhood Watch message will still be sent out, by well meaning individuals who aren't aware of what has been going on in the last few weeks