29.12.04
Belfast Telegraph
Thieves take flight with exotic parrots
By Ashleigh Wallace
awallace@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
29 December 2004
EIGHT parrots have been stolen from a pet shop in the Balloo area of Bangor, police today revealed.
A member of staff at the pet shop was walking to work at about 8.30am yesterday when it was noticed that lights in the premises were on.
The employee then discovered eight parrots were missing. All eight birds were young.
A police spokesman said: "These birds are quite distinctive and the public are being advised to treat them with caution if unusual sources are selling them."
Anyone with information on the break-in or who may know the whereabouts of the birds is asked to call the PSNI in Bangor on 91454444, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Animal Magic store manager, Sam Kirkpatrick, said he believed the robbers knew what they were looking for.
"It seems to me that they knew which birds to go for," he said.
"These were all birds that were hand-tamed."
The brightly coloured birds stolen were four African Grey Parrots, two Moluccan cockatoos with peach plumage, and two blue and green Amazon parrots.
DUP North Down MLA Alex Easton described the theft as "unacceptable" and said that the Balloo area was being subjected to increasing criminality.
"Once again the Balloo area has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, on this occasion the theft of eight parrots from the pet store," he said.
"I will ensure these matters are addressed at the District Policing Partnership, including the Christmas Day assault that left a man hospitalised.
"Again I appeal for the PSNI to be given every assistance by the community to address this problem."
Thieves take flight with exotic parrots
By Ashleigh Wallace
awallace@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
29 December 2004
EIGHT parrots have been stolen from a pet shop in the Balloo area of Bangor, police today revealed.
A member of staff at the pet shop was walking to work at about 8.30am yesterday when it was noticed that lights in the premises were on.
The employee then discovered eight parrots were missing. All eight birds were young.
A police spokesman said: "These birds are quite distinctive and the public are being advised to treat them with caution if unusual sources are selling them."
Anyone with information on the break-in or who may know the whereabouts of the birds is asked to call the PSNI in Bangor on 91454444, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Animal Magic store manager, Sam Kirkpatrick, said he believed the robbers knew what they were looking for.
"It seems to me that they knew which birds to go for," he said.
"These were all birds that were hand-tamed."
The brightly coloured birds stolen were four African Grey Parrots, two Moluccan cockatoos with peach plumage, and two blue and green Amazon parrots.
DUP North Down MLA Alex Easton described the theft as "unacceptable" and said that the Balloo area was being subjected to increasing criminality.
"Once again the Balloo area has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, on this occasion the theft of eight parrots from the pet store," he said.
"I will ensure these matters are addressed at the District Policing Partnership, including the Christmas Day assault that left a man hospitalised.
"Again I appeal for the PSNI to be given every assistance by the community to address this problem."
