With all this hysteria going around....

[Weezy]

Can the Horsewatch and Police people please let me know if MORE horses are going missing or MORE yards being broken into - I reckon not, I reckon it is just that EVERYTHING is being reported via all media means which doesn't usually happen.

Thoughts please

 

[mattilda]

We are very rural and I have not heard of any going from around here. But all this is making me very nervous. We have CCTV and the gates are all locked but if someone wants your horse they will find a way to get it. I would tend to agree with you Weezy things are being reported that don't usually get heard about.

 

[dozzie]

With you on that. I think the European men who are taking photos all over the country would have a really hard job remembering where they took the photos if stealing to order. As always i think the most at risk are Shetland/falabella owners and owners of coloured horses. Just look at the horsewatch sites.

I think there is a lot of scaremongering going on.

Im not saying these men have not been spotted, but not all over the country.

 

[The Virgin Dubble]

Agree Weezy.

There also seems to be a fair amount of chinese whispers thrown in too.

I have been getting texts about these disappearing horses, and with each text, the number of horses stolen, goes up and up and up...

I do think that we should all take these sightings and thefts seriously, and thank heavens we do have a network of information about these thefts, but we need facts, not hysteria.

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

Absolutely agree. With my Horsewatch hat on, I know that when any horse is stolen, generally speaking we get all the details and photos within 24 hours of being reported, either from the owner or the police, and are able to distribute all the info nationwide.

Regarding the horses allegedly stolen from Notts we've had absolutely no information at all, can't even get a fix on the number of horses. The police appear to know nothing about it. SO frustrating !!!!

 

[Keltic]

Ive just read this on another forum

http://horsegossip.proboards54.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=8444

 

[beaconhorse]

the part about the men seen taking photos is actually the only true part. I work in a saddlery and we have the faxes from the police about it. Its the one with white van and red land cruiser

But the rest is def a hoax I have 4 different lots of police information saying so

 

[Weezy]

Thank you for confirming keltic and epsom and beaconhorse - mass hysteria at its best then - am not at all suprised and cannot say I have lost a wink of sleep in the last week over it all!

 

[Lottiedude]

This is from the horsewatch forum, to reassure everyone:

To Equine Owners

Many of you will be aware of e mails and text messages circulating concerning reports of 2 men of East European appearance allegedly taking photographs of horses possibly with the intent of stealing.

The initial and original reports concerning two vehicles being seen with 2 men of East European appearance originated from Derbyshire/ Nottingham area.

The vehicles are a White Van registration number N253 XAJ
Red Land cruiser registration number B16 RBB

It is not confirmed or established what these men were doing or concerned in. Their activity is suspicious only and this is what needs to be explained.

As a result of the interest in the vehicles lines of enquiry are being undertaken.

The information was circulated via the Horsewatch network which through e mail and texting now covers virtually the UK. It would appear that as the information is passed on the senders have distorted and misrepresented it through their interpretation and this has been the cause of alarm and concern.

What is now happening is that anyone seen in "suspicious" circumstances near a horse is automatically East European when this is not the case. Unless the two vehicles are physically seen and registration number taken then there is no confirmation. Again a sighting of a white van or red car does not mean it is the vehicles circulated but rumour and suggestion merely exasperates the situation.

In this day and age we should all be aware of what goes on around us. Information circulated by Horsewatch Alliance is at times supplied from police sources and is aimed to inform and advise in order that members of the equine community can take steps to reduce, prevent crime as well as assist in detecting crime.

I hope this helps clarify the situation.

As always remain vigilant and report anything you consider suspicious. Community information is very important in trying to reduce, prevent and detect crime.

Hampshire Constabulary telephone number is 0845 045 45 45

In an emergency call 999

Regards - David

DI 23003 David Collings
Serious and Organised Crime Unit
& Force Equine Liaison Officer

 

[maddielove]

[ QUOTE ]
cannot say I have lost a wink of sleep in the last week over it all!

[/ QUOTE ]
I think I'll be losing some sleep tonight...they've been up here. They were confirmed to have been at a yard literally a stones throw from my yard..overe up my palomino in a minging green fly rug and muzzle...desperate to put them off if they appear again (I think they may be back own south now though)

 

[albynstudios]

regarding the white van registration N253XAJ this was explained on here yesterday and i as the owner have been cleared of all involvement with horse theft
as for other vehicles police will be checking them out as they did myself
please be aware the regi Is actually on a cream ford minibus and if it is seen on any other vehicle then please feel free to tel police as soon as possible as there is a posibility that is has been cloned

 

[Weezy]

I do feel horribly sorry for you albynstudios