Thieves steal at least 25 canaries from popular Paglesham pub's aviary (From Southend Standard)
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Thieves steal at least 25 canaries from popular Paglesham pub's aviary
6:10pm Monday 16th July 2012 in Southend
Stolen – Mark Oliver in front of the aviary at the Plough & Sail, East End, Paglesham
Thieves have stolen at least 25 canaries from an aviary outside a popular pub.
Police believe bolt croppers may have been used to cut the entrance to the aviary at the Plough & Sail, in Paglesham overnight on Saturday, July 8.
The birds had been lovingly hand-reared by landlord Mark Oliver so visitors could enjoy them. They had become a popular fixture with children, but only six were left behind following the break-in.
One bird died because it was too young to survive without its mother which was taken.
Mr Oliver said: “It’s a bit of a shame. We’ve had an aviary for years at the pub that my dad used to look after and now I do.
“We’ve had a lot of birds we’ve reared ourselves. People used to like coming over with their kids and having a look at the aviary. It was very well stocked.”
There are about six birds left and the pub plans to re-stock the aviary.
The local community have been left shocked.
Mr Oliver added: “Things just don’t happen like that out here, so I think they were stolen to order.
“It would be sad if they have been stolen and are now perhaps in a small cage, because they had a good sized aviary.”
Investigating officer PC Diane Nash, of Rayleigh police, said: “The owner is very upset as he hand-reared the birds. They are quite tame, used to being very well cared for and having lots of room to fly about.
“He told me that if they were set free they would just die in the wild as they are not able to fend for themselves.”
Police want to speak to anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious, or who is offered the birds for sale.
PC Nash added: “Paglesham is a very small close-knit community with very little crime. The pub is the hub of the village and the local people are very concerned, so I would urge anyone with information to contact me.”
Anyone with information, should call Rochford police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Comments(16)
Alice in Her Own Land :P
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6:50pm Mon 16 Jul 12
southendshrimper
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7:11pm Mon 16 Jul 12
j-w
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8:19pm Mon 16 Jul 12
jaguarxxv
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9:05pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Last Poster
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10:24pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Within a couple of days they will be up before the beak!
But, there could be a sting in the tail.... Oh no wait a minute, that's the other lot!
Thames Gateway
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10:40pm Mon 16 Jul 12
Julie57
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1:38am Tue 17 Jul 12
j-w
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8:27am Tue 17 Jul 12
jaguarxxv
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8:47am Tue 17 Jul 12
OK, let's get this over and done with.
This is definitely a job for Batman and Robin.
The they get caught and tried they will need a legal eagle.
This is nothing to crow about.
The perpetrators should be cursed with a lifetimes suffering with thrush.
Have they searched Canary wharf?
The birds have been 'alfinched' - finch - geddit??
The police should talk to a stool pigeon
The thieves made off swiftly
I could go on but I am finding this hard to swallow....
frank & monty
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8:58am Tue 17 Jul 12
jaguarxxv wrote:****.
LOL @ j-w OK, let's get this over and done with. This is definitely a job for Batman and Robin. The they get caught and tried they will need a legal eagle. This is nothing to crow about. The perpetrators should be cursed with a lifetimes suffering with thrush. Have they searched Canary wharf? The birds have been 'alfinched' - finch - geddit?? The police should talk to a stool pigeon The thieves made off swiftly I could go on but I am finding this hard to swallow....
frank & monty
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8:59am Tue 17 Jul 12
frank & monty wrote:Apparently the word for a male bird is deemed offensive by the Echo's Chief of Morals....
jaguarxxv wrote: LOL @ j-w OK, let's get this over and done with. This is definitely a job for Batman and Robin. The they get caught and tried they will need a legal eagle. This is nothing to crow about. The perpetrators should be cursed with a lifetimes suffering with thrush. Have they searched Canary wharf? The birds have been 'alfinched' - finch - geddit?? The police should talk to a stool pigeon The thieves made off swiftly I could go on but I am finding this hard to swallow....****.
C0ck!!
huedash
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10:41am Tue 17 Jul 12
It is nice that the people of Paglesham have only got this kind of thing to worry about really. They need to spread their wings a bit and see what the real world issues are to be honest.
dhd
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12:05pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Last Poster
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9:47pm Tue 17 Jul 12
dhd wrote:Well what are you like? How would you like to be stuck in a chicken wire cage 24 hours a day, especially if there are sparrow hawks and the like floating about. Imagine the fear those poor birds must have felt when a fox meanders by with a real hungry look in its eye. Do you really think these birds were kept in these cages as an act of kindness?
No wonder the worlds in the state it's in with the compassion you lot have shown here. Pathetic.
I take it you are thinking about the potential profit you could make from 25 canaries. It's all about the money, money, money! and you talk about compassion?
huedash
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8:47am Wed 18 Jul 12
Last Poster wrote:Totally agree, birds are not meant to be kept in cages. This practice is purely for peoples enjoyment (and profit) and is not in the best interest of the birds.
dhd wrote:Well what are you like? How would you like to be stuck in a chicken wire cage 24 hours a day, especially if there are sparrow hawks and the like floating about. Imagine the fear those poor birds must have felt when a fox meanders by with a real hungry look in its eye. Do you really think these birds were kept in these cages as an act of kindness?
No wonder the worlds in the state it's in with the compassion you lot have shown here. Pathetic.
I take it you are thinking about the potential profit you could make from 25 canaries. It's all about the money, money, money! and you talk about compassion?
If the birds are released and are killed, the responsibility is with the owners as well.
A Dad says...
6:43pm Mon 16 Jul 12
These lowlifes are confident that even if they're caught they will only get a slap on the wrist, but worse than that there doesn't seem to be any shame anymore.