- Species: Bird (See species list for details)
- Location: Bedfont, Middlesex, England
- Date Lost: July 20, 2011
- Original URL: http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2011/07/27/elderly-bedfont-residents-distraught-over-stolen-birds-109642-29127801/
From: The Chronicle
Elderly Bedfont residents “distraught” over stolen birds
Jul 27 2011 By Jessica Thompson
ELDERLY residents in the same Bedfont road have been left “distraught” after cold-hearted thieves broke into their back gardens as they slept and stole thousands of pounds worth of pet birds.
Police are appealing for information about 60 missing canaries and budgies after aviaries at the properties on Kingston Avenue were raided overnight between Tuesday July 19 and Wednesday July 20.
Both aviaries are thought to have been broken into the same way, with thieves climbing over the garden fence and breaking the locks to gain entry to the beloved pets.
It is thought that the criminals brought special cages with them to take the birds away.
One victim, an 81-year-old man who lives with his wife, had been collecting canaries for around 30 years, some of them are worth £30 each, with others likely to reach £1,000 each in value.
A total of around 30 birds were taken from him, with just the baby birds left. It is unlikely they will survive without their mothers.
Sarah Janes, the acting police sergeant for the Bedfont Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “It is so sad. It is really quite unusual as well. We haven’t deal with anything like this on this scale before. It has been awful for the victims, some of which have been in tears when I have visited them.
“We want to make people aware of this so they can look out for anything suspicious and contact us. It seems that these have been pre-meditated burglaries.”
In the second home to be targeted, 30 budgies, valued at between £15 and £25 were stolen from a 74-year-old woman who lives alone.
Sgt Janes said: “In both cases the victims have been left distraught, and in tears when we went round to visit them. Theft like this has a massive impact on the people involved. We want to speak to anyone who knows anything.”
No arrests had been made as The Chronicle went to press.
Anyone with information can contact Sgt Janes by calling 0208 2476321 or 07717 432739.