Police warn as thieves target horse stables in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Police officers said they had seen a significant increase in horse thefts, particularly in the Selby area.

A police spokesman said: “Incidents included theft of horse boxes and break-ins in stables.”

“Invest in quality padlocks and chains for your gates and doors. Ideally heavy duty hasp and clip padlocks on barn and outhouse doors that attach directly to the door and have two padlocks equally spaced top to bottom.

“Keep all gear and equipment in a secure, locked tack room and adhere to maintenance as rusty or broken hinges and rotten wood are easy to spot. If possible, put bars on the tack room windows, as these are often a key entry point for thieves.

“Make sure your garden is well lit – that’s a major deterrent. Also consider installing video surveillance.”

“Have your gear and equipment labeled. We hold regular item tagging events at local retailers and come to your location as well.”

“All horses, donkeys and mules are required by law to be microchipped and you should update your Passport Issuing Organization (PIO) with the microchip number so it can be uploaded to the Central Equine Database.”

“Be vigilant of any strangers visiting the farm, and if it is on shared grounds, try to alert everyone to known visitors.”