South Yorkshire and South Staffordshire hit by tack thieves
Police across Yorkshire are investigating a spate of tack thefts, with Western, Spanish and polo saddles among the goods taken.
Overnight 14-15 July 10 saddles and numerous other items of tack were stolen in Moss, Doncaster.
Among the haul were three Western saddles and bridles, an Anky Salinero dressage saddle and bridle and four polo saddle sets.
On the same night in Branton, Doncaster, highly unusual Spanish tack was stolen, including two Fhoenix saddles and a pierced leather Zaldi bridle.
Joanne Kennedy at South Yorkshire Police told H&H that a number of the thefts had been of tack left in stables, secured only with a padlock.
“Padlocks are no deterrent. The thieves just use bolt croppers,” she said. She suggested that yards concerned about safety should contact their local crime prevention officer who can advise on improving security.
“But the most important thing you can do is postcode all your tack and equipment. We have had cases where tack and rugs that had the owner’s postcode written on them were left behind by thieves,” she said.
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And nearly £2000 of horse equipment was stolen in South Staffordshire earlier this week.
Thieves broke into a container in Orchard Lane, Shareshill on Monday, 27 July.
Four bridles, a pair of Wolsey clippers, fiver sets of clipper blades, a chainsaw, generator as well as feed supplements and equine pain killers were taken, worth over £1,600.
Anyone with information should contact Staffordshire Police on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Postcoding tack can be done simply with white paint or a marker pen, or by leather stamping.
Contact www.ukhorsewatch.org.uk for further advice.
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.