Trailer thefts on the increase in rural areas warn Cheshire Police

Feb 18 2010 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

TRAILER owners are being urged to be vigilant after a spate of thefts in rural Cheshire.

Three to four trailers are being stolen a week often along with their valuable contents which has included tools, quad bikes and farm machinery.

Rural PC Tony Owens said trailers have been stolen from Tarporley, Cotebrook, Utkinton, Kelsall, Malpas and several have been taken from Nomansheath.

He said: “The thieves are not taking the cheap trailers – they are going for the expensive, top of the range twin axle trailers, and if they contain machinery or equipment they seem to be even more of a target.”

Cheshire Police are urging trailer owners to make note of the trailer’s make, model and serial number just in case they are stolen. The police also suggest getting the trailer registered with the TER (The National Plant and Equipment Register) so if it is stolen it will be easier for the police to track.

PC Owens added: “Often we find we suspect a trailer is stolen but have no way of proving it because the owner did not record the details and the thief has changed the trailers registration plate.

“Knowing and registering the serial number will eliminate this problem.”

Detectives have now closed the case into the theft of a trailer from Tarporley run equestrian business Racewood Ltd on January 6. The trailer contained three horse simulators and in total was worth around £30,000.

Mary McGuffog from Racewood Ltd said they are slowly getting back on track after the theft but it had a big impact.

She said: “It took us a while to get going again just because a lot of our tools were taken and it meant orders were delayed.

“Now we find we often need a piece of equipment only to remember it was in the trailer, so have to wait for it to be ordered.”