Plea for return of trailer and equipment worth £30,000 to Tarporley equestrian business

Jan 14 2010 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

DETECTIVES are hunting thieves who stole a trailer and equipment worth £30,000 from a Tarporley equestrian business.

The trailer contained three horse simulators, one of which was destined for a disabled riding school.

Now the owners of Racewood Ltd in Park Road, Mary McGuffog and her family, are pleading for it all to be returned.

Mary said they were shocked when they woke up on Thursday morning to find the trailer had been stolen from outside their business premises, which is next door to their home.

Racewood Ltd is the only company in the world to make horse simulators which are used by riders and riding schools worldwide.

The trailer contained three horse simulators – one complete, one training model, and one part only – and a number of tools in plastic boxes.

Mary added: “We had interest in all three simulators in the trailer. One of them was due to go to a disabled riding school down south.”

Luckily Tarporley Primary School, which is down the road, caught the theft on their CCTV cameras.

Mary said: “It was clear to see a four-wheel-drive-type vehicle towing the trailer away at around 9.30pm on Wednesday. It had also circled the road a couple of times previously, checking things out.”

She added: “The thing is we just didn’t hear anything – we live next door so we should have heard – it is very unnerving.

“We just hope somebody saw something and will help the police to catch them and get our equipment back.”

Police believe the thieves were just after the trailer and did not realise what was inside.

Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have seen this trailer and/or vehicle, or anyone acting suspiciously in the area, to contact PC Kevin Ross on 0845 458 0000. Information can also be left anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.