EQUINE CRIME PREVENTION

[KarynK]

EQUINE CRIME PREVENTION

In Light of the recent thefts I thought that I would post this so people can place their ideas on preventing crime here, perhaps H&H can sticky it? Horses and all their equipment are expensive so in times like this they make a good easy target for thieves due to the fact they are often in more remote places and security is not always as good as in a house and lets face it we all get complacent.

So I’ll start - Contact your local crime prevention officer and Horsewatch for more advice and help.
But:

TRAILERS/Lorries/Field Equipment

Postcode the roof and get metalwork marked with a postcode.
Make sure wheel clamps are of good quality and have a high security rating, a few more pounds spent here could make a difference. - Fit clamps to the back wheels to prevent any towing if they can’t get it off.
Fit a hitch lock to trailers as an added deterrent if they don’t already have one.
Consider using an old mobile together with a company that provides mobile tracking, so your vehicle can be recovered if taken, or there are tracking devices.
There are also other types of marking that you can use like the microdots, tiny chips that you can scatter all over the vehicle. Mark the vehicle on the outside to let would be thieves know if you do this!
Don’t forget your yard trailer and equipment as well if you need it for hay etc paint on the postcode!
You can also use locking parking type barriers to block a trailer being moved or chain the axle of the trailer to a well secured post.
Take pictures of the vehicle
Make a note of all serial numbers and keep it to hand.

TACK and RUGS

Postcode it!
Yes even the posh new rugs, they are going to get muddy anyway! You can pay out for kits or slap a bit of paint on there.
Get together with friends and you local police/horsewatch and organise a tack marking session. (When you sell the tack on give the buyer a receipt)
Saddles – Postcode and or microchip them take pictures as well it paints 1000 words!!!
Try not to keep valuables on a poorly protected yard and in tack rooms that are easy to break into, your insurance may not be valid if you do check the small print.
Check and see if car insurance covers your tack.

HORSES

Microchip its about £20 odd get a group together and negotiate a callout free vet visit!
Freeze brand get a group session (you can paint this on your rugs it’s a unique number)
Hoof Brand – though this grows out
Place warning signs on the yard gate that horses are marked/chipped
Take pictures of your horse in summer and winter coat just in case
Make sure the yard gate has a good quality chain and padlock on it.
Put up CCTV warnings and dummy or real cameras, systems are much cheaper these days.

Be vigilant join horsewatch and if you see anything suspicious in your area make a note, any strange callers etc, write down vehicle numbers then description of the vehicle, also unusual facial features, people can change clothes, get pictures if you can without putting yourself in danger! Report any sightings to the police/horsewatch look out for your neighbour’s property and get them to look out for yours.

Clean off shiny surfaces now and again so if someone does try and steal the trailer fingerprints can be lifted if someone does have a go!

But the message really is mark it and you stand a better chance of it not getting stolen, or getting it back and the police stand a better chance of prosecuting. Spend a few minutes this weekend with some paint!!

If you are unlucky enough to become a victim, contact the police, don’t touch anything until the police arrive and decide if they need forensics, especially footprints don’t trample over them. Make a list of things you think are missing with any ID numbers and pictures. Get your crime reference and circulate to all the forums H&H etc.

National Horsewatch
www.ukhorsewatch.org.uk/
Hampshire site with tips
www.nfed.co.uk/horsewatch.htm

[KarynK]

Some words of wisdom from Hampshire Horsewatch

Stolen Horses are a horse owner’s worse nightmare. There have been a number of recent incident with thieves targeting Shetlands or perhaps similar in size.

Theft of horses is very difficult to prevent for all the obvious reasons. However there are deterrents to prevent thefts and importantly identify horses to owners and this is freeze marking. The decision to do so is with YOU the owner. As with all stolen property the item taken is invariably only worth something if someone is prepared to buy it. So as horse owners or someone thinking of buying one only do so if you know who you are buying from.

YOU - the community have it in your power to prevent many horse thefts by closing down the possibility of a sale. YOU know that at present Shetlands are being stolen......if you know someone who is selling, advertising for sale Shetlands make some enquiries and if needs be report the matter to the police. Genuine sellers of horses have nothing to fear. YOU the community are best placed to enquire and investigate on behalf of your fellow horse owners who may be the victims of a horse theft.

Always remember never to put yourself in any danger if enquiring into any matters. Gathering information and passing it on to the police or your county Horsewatch will be just as useful.

Another worrying trend following on from the theft of horses is that the thieves will contact the owners of the horse saying they know where the horse is or can arrange for its recovery. The owner is only too grateful to recover the horse that they will gladly give up money as a reward! If YOU should be in this position seek advice from your police. Always make sure YOU know who your investigating officer is so you can keep him/her informed.

[KarynK]

For those of you with stolen horses/tack etc please note:

Salisbury (Wiltshire) Livestock market are now having horse and tack sales on the first Friday of every month. It is apparently not being run the usual auctioneers and is hired by a third party for the event.

Can anyone with sales like this local to them please post the details here so victims of these crimes have an idea where to look and perhaps we can compile a comprehensive reference list.

Details here of the New Forest sales, which are very well attended by Hampshire Equine Liaison Officers!
http://www.newforestpony.com/beaulieu_road.html

[Hants_Horsewatch]

Regarding Vehicles

Please be sure to make a note of your trailer or Lorry's make model and serial number and keep it somewhere to hand.

Also take a photo of the whole trailer or Lorry and some showing any distinguishing features in close up, keep it somewhere safe just in case.

[fairythree]

we are experiencing thefts of tack all over at the moment especially here in suffolk, Suffolk police have kick started horsewatch which has already prevent several of my friends having their tack stolen just by giving them the heads up, postcoding is a very good idea i have all my saddles done!

[StableMum]

Will go there next Friday to see if my rugs turn up. Stolen on Tuesday during the day while they were airing over the stable door!

[PeterNatt]

Do you know that the National Equestrian Database (NED) can reduce the chance of your horse being stolen and if it is stolen, increase the chance of it being recovered? Two very good reasons to associate with your horse in NED!

What to do - step by step

1) find your horse on NED and check that the basic information provided to NED by your passport issuer is correct, complete and up to date



2) associate yourself with your horse by clicking on "associate yourself with this equine"



3) check that all your horse’s security identifiers are correctly recorded; if a freezemark or microchip number is missing you can add it yourself



4) upload a clear photo of your horse



How does this help me?



If your horse is lost, stolen or goes missing on loan, being associated with your horse in NED allows you to immediately…



1) flag the horse as stolen or missing

2) add some detailed notes that might help identify your horse if anyone sees it

3) publish your contact details, so anyone with information can quickly let you know



Your horse will then also be clearly marked as lost or stolen on a NED Passport Check - so if someone is being offered your horse for sale – alarm bells will ring.



NED features the most recently reported lost/stolen horse with a photo on its home page for every visitor to see, increasing the chance of a missing horse being found as quickly as possible. This has happened several times already, enabling missing horses to be returned.



NED also maintains a lost/stolen register which missing horses can stay on free-of-charge for as long as it takes to recover them.

Don’t delay, associate today at www.nedonline.co.uk

[squirtlysmum]

I am the Crime Reduction Officer for Shepway in Kent and I cover 144 square miles which includes a large rural area.
My request is please report occurances of suspicious incidents and thefts. Many times I find attending premises people have not bothered to report things, if something is reported the police can act, something may be part of a crime trend.
Also mark all your property and where possible make it visible this reduces the resale value and often will put potential thieves off.
Thank you

[leanne1988]

I think having signs around the yard/on gates clearly stating that horses are microchipped, and that all tack & vechicles are marked helps to deters thieves.

If you cant afford real CCTV, putting up dummy ones is a good idea, you can get ones that flash so they look realistic, just make sure where u put it is realistic too (& to replace batteries when they die)! - theifs aren't dumb and they'll most probably work out that certain areas/surfaces wont have an electrical supply :P

I also think changing the times you go up to see you horse, and how many times you go up, can help.

[leanne1988]

P.s Ive had a couple of people walking their dogs up by my horse, which isnt a footpath, i've always challenged them, making sure they know for future that it isnt public, and ensuring i get their name, they dont normally like that bit! - but i tell them its for safety & to cover us both! Im thinking i now need to put up yet more signs so people know its PRIVATE! LAND!