Horse owners are being warned that there is a surge in the theft of horse trailers.

The change in towing rules has resulted in more new, young trailer drivers amidst a scarcity of horse trailers.

This increase in demand and decrease in supply is fuelling a rise in horse trailer theft.

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With this recent increase in trailer theft, owners are being encouraged to be extra vigilant as any delay between the theft of a trailer and it being reported to the police can prove costly.

Treve Jenkin, data protection officer at trailer and plant checking company, The Equipment Register, said: "A problem we frequently encounter with horse trailer theft is that people park them up at the yard or stables, and particularly at this time of the year with the short days, they do not notice straightaway that their trailer has been stolen.

"A horse trailer that has been gone for several days could have been sold on, sometimes even twice, before it is reported as stolen."

People that have unwittingly bought a stolen trailer have to return it to the original owner.

SEIB Insurance Brokers deputy chairman, Barry Fehler, said: "If a trailer is purchased that is later identified as stolen, the purchaser is liable to return the trailer to its rightful owner.

"We work closely with the police and theft tracking companies and the information they hold on stolen trailers.

"By reporting the theft of a trailer quickly, it dramatically increases the chance of it being successfully returned to its rightful owner.

"Having the correct insurance in place provides peace of mind for our customers."

Lengthy waits are being experienced on new trailers and the market for secondhand trailers is competitive.

Consequently, trailer hire is proving popular.

Valerie Isted runs Equinity Trailer Hire in West Sussex and the company is experiencing unprecedented demand for the time of year.

She said: "People are struggling to buy trailers on the private market and are increasingly hiring them instead.

"Demand for trailer hire is huge at the moment for both long and short-term arrangements.

"We currently have 46 trailers out on hire and a waiting list of 11. I am trying to purchase further Ifor Williams trailers and supply is a real issue."

The market is moving so fast, it is commonplace to put a deposit down before going to even see a trailer. Valerie continued: "Buyers need to be really careful when sending a deposit for a trailer they have seen online or on social media before going to see it.

"There are plenty of people out there that will take the money and be gone."

Treve confirmed that over the past 12 months a third of every ten trailer checks run by his company has confirmed a problem.

Treve added: "If the trailer doesn't have a VIN plate, or it has been filed clear - don't buy it.

"Also, all trailers manufactured in the last few years will have been supplied with a certificate of conformity. If this is not available, to me, it would signal that something is not right."