Bird burglary links probed

By Lia Bichel and Lilly O’Gorman
EXOTIC birds have been stolen in a spate of burglaries in the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire.
Birds valued at more than $60,000 were stolen in four separate incidents in Cannons Creek, Devon Meadows and Pakenham Upper.
Detectives said the four burglaries occurred between 18 December and 6 January, all in the early hours of the morning.
In all four occasions, the offender has gained access to the targeted property by cutting a large hole through a wire fence from a neighbouring property.
Detectives believe the offender then cuts the padlocks securing the exotic birds in their cages, before stealing breeds such as macaws, ringnecks, kakarikis, finches and parrots.
The most recent occurred in Pakenham Upper after 12.30am on Friday 6 January.
John Adriaans and Andrew Bradbury were asleep when burglars cut their way through a neighbour’s fence and into their Morrison Road property. They cut their way into locked cages and stole about 32 of the exotic birds, valued at about $45,000.
Mr Adriaans said a lot of the birds stolen, including macaws, amazons and quaker parrots, were in breeding season and were incubating eggs.
“We’re devastated,” Mr Adiaans said.
“It’s a callous theft.”
Rick, who asked that his last name not be used, was the victim of the Cannons Creek theft. He said the person or persons who stole the birds would have also had to have a large vehicle to keep all the items.
“They stole all the colourful birds the first time. They cleaned out my aviary and finch rooms, and left cages open for other birds to escape,” Rick said.
“They took medications and vitamins too, but in their haste, they missed some valuable parrots which I have since sold, ” he said.
Detectives believe that the four incidents are linked. Police are interested in speaking to the owner of a late ’90s or early 2000s maroon or dark orange Holden Commodore sedan, which was observed at the time of the first Cannons Creek and the Devon Meadows incidents.
Anyone with any information about the incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.