CCTV STAFF HELPED FIND STOLEN PONIES

EAGLE-eyed CCTV staff helped in the safe recovery of four Shetland ponies which were snatched from a field near the city.EAGLE-eyed CCTV staff helped in the safe recovery of four Shetland ponies which were snatched from a field near the city.As reported in The Evening Telegraph yesterday, Tracy Jackson has been reunited with the ponies, which were stolen in separate raids on her field in Eye, near Peterborough.

But it emerged today that the ponies were tracked to a field almost 100 miles away in Haughton Regis, near Luton, Bedfordshire, thanks to some good old-fashioned detective work.

Pregnant pony Tiny, who has since lost the foal because of the stress, was the first to go, followed just days later by three more Shetland ponies, called Gorgeous, Dawn and Florett.

Pictures were circulated to the Crimestoppers TV appeal by Pc David May, community beat officer for Eye.

Staff at Atech Security

Services, based at Wisbech, saw the appeal, and some of the operators remembered seeing a pony fitting the description of Tiny on a travellers site in Wisbech.

Police were alerted, but the travellers had already moved on.

But thanks to CCTV footage of a vehicle seen with Tiny, Pc May was able to alert other forces, which eventually led to a sighting in Haughton Regis.

It led to an emotional reunion for Miss Jackson and her ponies.

Miss Jackson (28), of Thorney Road, Eye, said today: Tiny lost the foal, but the lucky thing was she decided to mother the other little one, and so at least she was able to save that one s life.

The ponies are all a little bit shaken and seem very nervous.

She said: When the police told me, I just broke down. I d started to think I d never see them again.

I can t thank the police enough, they have done everything possible to get them back, and I just want to express to them how grateful I am.

Pc May said: The reunion was a very emotional time, but I am so glad they have been found safe and well.

And a spokesman for Atech added: It s great news and I m glad we were able to help.