Thieves take flight with pet birds

A FATHER-of-two is appealing for the safe return of his six cockatiels stolen in an overnight raid.

Bryan Lawton (43), of Chichester Crescent, Chadderton, kept the pets in a caged outdoor aviary in his garden.

When he went to feed them yesterday morning he found thieves had removed a fence panel before carefully unscrewing the door of the metal cage and opening the airlock door to take all six birds.

Mr Lawton said: “I couldn’t believe they had gone.

“They are great family pets that we have had for 12 years.

“They don’t tend to make a noise when it’s dark and, as the aviary is down the garden, we didn’t hear a thing.

“They cost about £50 each so they are not particularly rare or expensive.”

Two are grey, three have grey and white speckles, while one, which has been hand-reared, has yellow feathers.

The police are now investigating the theft and Mr Lawton is urging people to be vigilant.

He said: “The thief might be someone who keeps birds but I suspect it is some young criminals who saw them from the field which backs on to my house.

“My family really misses the birds.”