POLICE investigating the death of a horse say someone was trying to steal it. The black and white filly was found lying in a field on Windmill Hill at 6pm on Sunday with a ligature around her neck. She died of strangulation when the rope caught on a tree stump. Two other horses are missing from the field, leading officers to believe that this was a deliberate act to steal the horses that went wrong. Hampshire Constabulary's equine liaison officer, Detective Inspector David Collings, is urging horse owners to be on their guard: "We would ask horse owners to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police. Make sure you take a reference number in case you need to contact us again. "There have been other incidents nationally of theft of horses and this is becoming a particularly worrying crime. "To prevent further thefts the equine community needs to support one another. The Alliance of Horsewatches provides a network through which information can be circulated, but we need horse owners to communicate with each other and ensure they liaise with their neighbourhood police teams to discuss ways in which equine crime, as well as other criminality, can be tackled." The Windmill Hill horses, who belong to a Welsh farmer, were part of a 30-strong herd of Welsh cobs used as breeding stock. They were in the field to eat the grass down. Located near the water tower on Windmill Hill, the area where the incident occurred is owned by Alton Town Council and, although leased out and used for grazing, it is open to the public. It is a popular haunt for families and dog walkers and officers would like to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity over the weekend. Anyone with information is asked to phone Pc Stacy Beale or Pc Colin Pickworth on 0845 0454545, quoting reference 44080286375 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
