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Heartache for Pudsey stables after thieves strike
Thieves who staged a £20,000 raid have wrecked riding sessions for 40 deserving youngsters that had been funded by cash confiscated from crooks.
The raiders used cutting equipment to get into a metal shipping container and steal tack, including 25 saddles worth 20,000, at the Willows Nook Riding Academy at Scholebroke Lane.
Monday night's theft now threatens the future of the stables and owner Tracey Walker. She has been running the business with her daughters Sophie, 20 and Jessica,17 for five years.
The gang struck just days before a programme of horse care training and riding lessons organised by North West Leeds Police and the Leeds Council Youth Service was due to take place. The lessons are aimed at getting teenagers off the streets and stimulating handicapped youngsters.
The sessions had been funded by a 3,500 grant under the Proceeds of Crime Act from the West Yorkshire Police Community Trust.
The first and second sessions were to take place yesterday and today and the third was scheduled for Monday.
Participants were to learn basic horse care and have a riding lesson. Another stables stepped in help the run yesterday's course but the other sessions have had to be cancelled.
Now police are hunting thieves and trying to salvage the situation for the youngsters, while Tracey and her daughters are desperate to get the sessions at the stables back up and running.
Acting Chief Inspector Mark Bownass said: "This was a very mean theft which may deny these youngsters an important opportunity to better themselves. I appeal to anyone who may have any information that could aid the police – no matter how small they may think it is – and help solve this crime and salvage this project to contact Pudsey police on 0845 6060606."
Tracey Walker said: "The thieves were determined and took every piece of tack and saddles we had amassed over 10 years. We were just getting established and they cleaned us out."
Because of the high premiums it had not been viable to insure the stolen items.
Many stables were closing down because of essential expenses such as riding insurance and red tape.
"Many of our customers have telephoned to express support. If anyone out there has old tack they don't want – perhaps broken which we could fix – which would enable us to keep going we would be glad of it. We do not want to let these groups down," Tracey Walker added.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
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