STABLES near Stourport were targeted in separate raids in which equine equipment was stolen.

An attempted third break-in was foiled.

Between 7.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, two saddles, worth £250 each, were taken from stable outbuildings at Dunley.

One of the saddles was extra-wide fitting, with brass stirrups and a blue and red numnah - a pad that goes under a saddle to keep it clean and cushion a horse or pony's back.

The other saddle was made of shiny, reddy-brown leather and had a blue numnah and silver-coloured stirrups.

Stables at Lincomb, near Stourport, were broken into on the night of New Year's Day and a horse rug and bales of hay were stolen.

Horses in the field escaped into the road when the thieves left the field gates open. The horses were later recovered, uninjured, and returned to the field.

An attempted break-in at neighbouring stables was foiled the following day when the owner arrived there.

A girl, described as "having a serious black eye", was sitting in a silver Vauxhall Corsa parked by the stables and, when she was challenged, claimed to be looking for a lost dog.

Two young men, thought to be in their early 20s, appeared from the rear of the stable buildings and jumped into the car, which was driven away. All three were wearing body-warmer waistcoats.

A window at the back of the stable buildings was later found to have been smashed but iron bars at the windows had prevented the intruders getting in.

On New Year's Eve, at around 1.15pm, the owner of a property at Astley, near Stourport, found two men acting suspiciously, claiming to be looking for a Jack Russell dog.

They were described as between 17 and 20. The younger one was around 5ft 2ins tall, of slim build and wearing jeans and a waistcoat-style jacket. The older one was around 5ft 6ins, heavily built with dark hair and wearing jeans.

The car they were thought to be driving was a white or light-coloured or silver two-door hatchback saloon, possibly similar to a Peugeot 205, with a black panel across the rear.

Police would like to hear from anyone who has information about any of the incidents or who might be offered horse tack at "silly prices". The police can be contacted on the Crimestoppers line, 0800 555111.