150 Years Ago on March 21, 1863 this was posted.

Horse Thieves Around - In the town of Lake Mills, WI, on the night of the 13th, a span of bay horses about six years old with a set of silver-plated harnesses were stolen from the barn of Mr. John Michiels. A liberal reward has been offered by the owner for the recovery of the team and the apprehension of the thief. There must be an organized gang of horse thieves in this vicinity. No pains should be spared to detect and bring the rascals to justice. The many fine horses that abound here is a great temptation to this class of depredators.

Horses are probably first taken by one party and so rapidly run off to distance places by another that it is almost impossible to recover them.

RESOURCE: Watertown Daily Times, March 21, 2013, http://www.wdtimes.com/features/glimpses_from_the_past/article_33467dea-924d-11e2-b8d5-001a4bcf887a.html