The latest Horsewatch information will be published here, with its source and whom to contact, when we have that information too.
June 5, 2008
This is the latest from the H&H website:
A
Sheffield man believes the registration number of his vehicle has been
cloned by the suspicious men reportedly seen up and down the country
taking photos of horses.
Roger Peacock of Grenoside — close to
Hope Valley, Derbyshire, where one of the incidents took place — says
the registration number of his cream Ford mini bus has been circulated
as being that of a white Transit van, being used by the suspected horse
thieves.
"My wife rides and we know lots of people with
horses so it's a bit of a worry. We daren't go anywhere because I'm
concerned an irate horse owner will confront my wife or my son," he
told H&H. "But we have a cream minibus, not a white van."
Vans
using the same plates as Mr Peacock's mini bus have been seen in
multiple locations at the same time and police have confirmed they feel
the plates (N253 XAJ) have been cloned.
Inspector Erika
Green of Derbyshire Police is urging anyone who sees people acting
suspiciously to contact their local police station immediately.
"We
have had occasions where people have contacted Horsewatch in the first
instance and we have lost valuable time in investigating sightings,"
she said.
June 4, 2008
"Staffordshire police say no horses have been reported stolen
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor
4 June, 2008
Police in Staffordshire are keen to pour water on reports that a number of horses have been stolen in the area.
Following
last week's round of texts and emails regarding suspicious sightings of
men photographing horses, a message telling people that 14 horses have
been stolen is being circulated.
The latest message says
nine horses have been stolen overnight from Cannock, Staffordshire and
five have been taken from Lichfield. It says the thieves are favouring
coloured horses and ponies, Irish horses and mares with foals.
"This
is not the case — no reports on stolen horses have been received," said
Staffordshire police spokesman Emma Stanley. "And while we can't
obviously comment if horses have been stolen and not reported, we would
expect that someone missing that number of horses would contact the
police."
The spokesman said that police have received a
number of calls from worried horse owners who have seen suspicious
vehicles — and that stables in the area are aware.
"We're
getting calls from members of the public wanting to know what truth
there is in all this, and we don't know at present whether it is a hoax
or not," said Ms Stanley.
"But we have increased patrols in the areas that vehicles have been seen and people are being more vigilant."
If
you see anything suspicious, police forces across the county have urged
people to contact police direct — rather than approach their local
horsewatch.
This morning, H&H had a report of "man
with a foreign accent in a black car" taking photographs of a bay
warmblood mare in Cornwall. "
June 1, 2008
Please see the following message
from DI David Collings of Hampshire Police & Hampshire Horsewatch.
Any further information will be put online at www.nfed.co.uk as soon as it becomes available.
Please forward this Email on to to all of your contacts with equine interests.
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
Mobile 07867 972868
More Information 2008
Details shortly
Report from a rider in Epping Forest
email June 4 from Mara, who speaks three eastern european languages and several dialects.
"
I saw it on Sunday while riding in Epping Forest. they were taking
pictures of horses at Albany house specially a colored cob in her
field.
They were 2 men middle age Rumanians. No vehicule to be seen." Mara.
