Thieves fly the coop with exotic birds

By Bridget Cook
A DEVON Meadows bird breeder has been targeted by birdnappers for the second time in eight months.
Almost 40 featured friends were stolen from a South Gippsland Highway property over the weekend.
About $4000 worth of birds were taken from their cages between 4pm on Saturday and 8am on Sunday.
Some 20 ring tails, two Alexandrines, eight Kakarikis, two princess parrots, 10 musk lorikeets, six conures and one ring-necked pheasant have been stolen.
The property was one of three in the region that was also targeted in a spate of bird thefts in December and January this year.
More than 300 exotic birds valued at $60,000 were stolen from the Devon Meadows property, as well as Cannons Creek and Pakenham Upper – which police believed were all linked.
Police alleged an unknown offender burgled a Craigs Lane residence in Cannons Creek twice on 18 December and 24 December last year and the Devon Meadows property on 19 December.
More than 32 exotic birds, valued at about $45,000, were also taken from a Morrison Road, Pakenham Upper, property between 12.30am and 8am on Friday 6 January.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Guy Matheson at Casey CIU on 9705 3111 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.