Exotic bird stolen - Why? ***UPDATE!!!

[happylabs]

I don't really like to post bad things but this story in our local news has touched me because I remember this guy from high school. He was a little quirky but a nice guy and now someone has stolen his exotic parrot. Here is the link and the story if you are interested in reading:

"A city man is pleading for the thief who stole his exotic parrot to safely return the bird to him.

"The victim is very distraught about this," city police Capt. Michael Orwig said of James Erb, whose bird, a blue and gold-colored macaw was stolen from Erb's apartment on William Street sometime before 4 p.m. on Monday.

"After returning to the apartment with his bird, he left the apartment door unlocked. He was expecting company. Sometime after taking a shower, he discovered the bird and its cage gone," Orwig said.

Earlier in the afternoon, Erb and the bird, whose name is Sunshine, visited the Sun-Gazette and were photographed together.

Orwig said investigators were trying to develop leads. He said it was possible that the intruder had seen Erb enter his apartment building with the bird and then just opened the unlocked door and snatched it.

"Anything is possible," Orwig said. Nothing else was taken in the burglary.

No one answered Erb's door when a Sun-Gazette reporter went to the apartment building about noon Tuesday.

When WNEP later paid a visit, Erb told a reporter, "There's too much in my heart. My soul is trapped in that bird."

Erb and Sunshine, who have been together for 10 years, were in the news in mid-January 2006 when a burglar entered Erb's apartment and reportedly tried to steal the bird, Orwig said.

"The bird bit into the man's hand, and that helped lead investigators to a suspect, who was arrested and later convicted," Orwig said."

Photo of owner and bird on the newspaper's website:

http://www.sungazette.com/page/conte....html?nav=5011


So, my question is why? Why would someone do this? Why would someone steal this man's parrot, his friend and longtime companion? It breaks my heart.

[Lady's Human]

Money. Exotic birds fetch large amounts of money to the right (wrong)_ people.

[Karen]

Very sad, hopefully someone will see the story and his bird will be returned.

[IRescue452]

Pet theft is up 50% across the country this year. You can get money from the reward or resale. Recently there have been lots of cases where the theif leaves the laptop and dvd player and all that stuff but takes the little toy breed dog.

[happylabs]

GOOD NEWS!!!!!

The bird was found today on a back road about 30 minutes out of town, still in his cage and unharmed.

SO HAPPY FOR THIS GUY.

He was on the news. It looked like he had tears in his eyes. The bird was talking away.

[pomtzu]

That's great news. I guess it was getting too hot for the thief, so he dumped the stolen goods. So glad for the bird's sake, that it wasn't cold out, and so glad that he was found safe too.