Rural Crime Team Recover Stolen Saddles
Earlier this week the Warwickshire Police Rural Crime Team were contacted and provided with a lead by a determined victim of crime in the North of the county that showed a very similar saddle to one of two stolen from them in a farm burglary back in October 2020.Following this lead, officers were able to locate the saddle in the Shropshire area and further enquiries then led to the second saddle being located in the Cornwall area. On getting our hands on the saddles, they were able to confirm they were the stolen items within seconds owing to the victim having taken the time to mark their property prior to it being stolen.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to mark your property. It would have been very difficult to have checked the true ownership if they had not had a way to confirm their identity.
The Police also want to raise awareness around auctions conducted on whats app messenger and other similar platforms. These unregulated auctions are easily used by criminals to move stolen goods. If you are spending £200 on a saddle worth £2500, you should expect a knock on the door from the police, with a few questions to answer around why you thought there was nothing strange about such a bargain.
There are other victims in this particular case, who have not had their property located along with countless others who have suffered burglaries at their farms and stables. Please be assured we never stop looking. Really consider helping us out by property marking so the moment we get the opportunity, we can take it back for you.
Details on tack marking and other crime prevention advice for your horse, tack and equipment can be found on the Warwickshire Horse Watch website www.warwickshire-horsewatch.co.uk. The Horse Watch scheme also provides signs for your gate and stables, plus trailer stickers. For more information email horsewatch@warwickshire.police.uk