POACHING is the latest petty crime to afflict Hartley Wintney in a surge that has hit the village in recent weeks.

Four criminal incidents have been reported in the last fortnight, mostly during the weekend of May 7-8. The reports follow a spate of break-ins and thefts in the area over the past month.

Three men were spotted with lurcher-style dogs on Hazeley Heath near Arrow Lane at around 7pm on Saturday, May 7. Dogs of this type are commonly used in deer poaching.

The men were described as dark haired, one wearing dark shorts and a white vest. They had a young boy with them. Two of the dogs were brown. Another was cream coloured.

Anyone with more information is asked to phone police on 101, quoting the reference number 44160171853. Or you can call Crimestoppers to remain anonymous.

In a separate sighting just an hour later on the same evening, a suspicious van was observed in the Borough Court area. Four men were seen with four to six dogs on open ground nearby. They are suspected of hare coursing.

The van was reported to be a white Ford Transit, with the number plate YE60 DZF. The crime reference for this incident is 44160171970.

At some time during the night on the same weekend, unknown persons tried to break into a car on Priory Lane. Police think the thieves used a screwdriver. They did not get in, but did damage the car. The police reference number on the incident is 44160172706.

On the Saturday of the following weekend, a bicycle was stolen from behind Costa Coffee on Hartley Wintney High Street, between 3.45 and 4.30pm. It was a black and pink, specialized Myka mountain bike.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the theft, or has relevant information to contact them, quoting reference 44160182912.

Another bicycle was stolen in the spate of incidents earlier this month, as well as a motorcycle. And there was a string of break-ins, mostly into garden sheds and garages. The same containers on a building site at Greenfieds Junior School were targeted on two occasions.