Work by Cheshire Police's Rural Crime Team has led to the recovery of two suspected stolen horse trailers and one stolen quad bike, with an estimated total value of £40,000 to £50,000.

On 30 December, officers from Cheshire Police received a report that a locked horse trailer had been stolen from the High Leigh area.

Following a number of lines of enquiry, officers were quickly able to identify the vehicle believed to be linked to the stolen horseboxes.

The vehicle in question would be found in Staffordshire and seized for not being insured, with an individual living in Shropshire being identified as its owner.

On Friday 2 January, officers from the Rural Crime team, supported by colleagues from West Mercia and Staffordshire Police and partners from the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team, conducted a large-scale search at an equestrian premises in Shifnal.

Their efforts resulted in the recovery of the stolen trailer and a quad bike. Two further horse trailers, suspected of being stolen and stripped of identity, were also seized during the operation. 

Sergeant Rob Simpson, of the Rural Crime Team, said: "Officers on our team are specially trained to identify caravans, plant machinery, quads and more, and despite efforts to remove, change or disguise the identity of the items, they worked painstakingly into the night in very cold and muddy circumstances to check them all.

"It was an incredibly long shift for some of the team, but well worth it.

"We take great pride in Cheshire Police's Rural Crime Team knocking on the front doors of people involved in crime that targets our wonderful county.

"I want to send a clear message to those who look to commit crime in rural Cheshire, we will do all we can to disrupt your activities, to investigate you and to hold you responsible for your crimes."