�35,000 of equipment taken at equestrian centre burglary
EXCLUSIVE By ADAM LAZZARI A BUSINESSWOMAN has called for the Wisbech community to get up in arms after suffering her second major break-in in nine months. Chestnut Farm Equestrian Centre, in Walton Highway, was broken into between 7pm on Tuesday last w
EXCLUSIVE
By ADAM LAZZARI
A BUSINESSWOMAN has called for the Wisbech community to "get up in arms" after suffering her second major break-in in nine months.
Chestnut Farm Equestrian Centre, in Walton Highway, was broken into between 7pm on Tuesday last week and 7am the following day and police are investigating.
Owner Wendy Whatley, 47, believes around �35,000 of riding equipment was stolen and thieves also attempted to steal her Mitsubishi van as she slept in her nearby home.
The centre was broken into in January this year when an estimated �20,000 worth of equipment was taken.
Most Read
- 1 Breakup and burglary! Couple's chaos after £101m win on Euromillions
- 2 Man, 28, and boy, 15, arrested after major A1101 crash in Wisbech
- 3 Recap: Main road through Wisbech town centre shut after serious crash
- 4 Inside Wisbech's new 'Get Out' escape room
- 5 Village road closing for five weeks for temporary barrier installation
- 6 Knife-wielding teen jailed after week-long crime spree in Wisbech
- 7 Middlesbrough couple found in Cambs with drugs worth around £37,000
- 8 Boys, 13 and 17 killed in horror BMW crash near A47 in Peterborough
- 9 Princess Anne waves from Range Rover after landing in Wisbech
- 10 Lorry breaks down on A47 near Wisbech
Miss Whatley believes there has been a spate of burglaries in the area but Norfolk Police are unaware of this.
Miss Whatley said: "We're in a recession and businesses are struggling. We run a riding school and can't operate without this equipment. I've lost business and had to borrow equipment to keep going.
"The people who carry out these crimes don't have any consideration for the affect it has on people's lives.
"I've had plans to expand the business by offering a horse and carriage service for weddings. I had to put these plans back after the first break in and will have to put them back again."
A police spokesman said: "There has been a few break-ins in the area but we are unaware of any substantial pattern of crimes.
"Officers are investigating the break-in at Chestnut Farm Equestrian Centre and we appeal to anyone who has seen any suspicious activity in the area to get in touch with the Terrington Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 456 4567."
Miss Whatley said: "I've heard on the grapevine that tractors and horses have been stolen in the area recently.
"These thieves are out there for quick, easy money at our expense. The community needs to get up in arms to sort this problem out."
Crimestoppers can be contacted, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
