Thief takes flight with Frankie the pet parrot

Published on Friday 4 April 2008 10:23

THE burglar who broke into Sharon and Dave Finlay's home is clearly a real bird-brain.

As well as swiping an expensive laptop, mobile phone and digital camera, he made off with the family's beloved pet parrot Frankie (pictured above).

The couple awoke to discover the break-in at their Trinity home and ten-month-old Frankie's cage empty. The thief had broken into their Earl Haig Gardens home through a downstairs window and quickly pocketed the electronic equipment.

Why he then turned his attentions to the exotic bird is a mystery, but the Finlays said all they cared about was Frankie's safe return.

The green, yellow and grey Senegalese parrot was bought from a neighbour for just over 500 and had quickly become a member of the family.

He had learned to imitate the sound of a ringing phone and could mimic a whistle used to call the family dog Star to attention.

"He was very playful, and he used to enjoy riding on the back of our dog," said housewife Mrs Finlay, 49.

"He could even make a whistling sound and the dog would go to his cage.

"He used to play dead a lot of the time too, and we read that a lot of parrots like lying on their back.

"We are just so worried about him as his flight feathers are just starting to come back, and so he could fly away from whoever has taken him. He's just a young animal and wouldn't survive out in the wild."

Mrs Finlay said she had not even noticed anything else was missing after she came downstairs on Wednesday morning and spotted that Frankie was gone.

It was only when she and husband Dave, 56, a retired construction manager, noticed the other missing items that they realised they had been robbed.

Mrs Finlay has contacted local pet stores and animal shelters in the hope that the bird will turn up there.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish SPCA said the theft was particularly worrying as the criminal might not have any idea of how to care for a parrot.

"Obviously, when anyone loses a pet it is very difficult for them, but with an exotic animal such as this it is more of a worry.

"While everyone knows how to look after a cat or a dog, taking care of an animal like this can be a lot more difficult."

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating a housebreaking that happened at an address in Earl Haig Gardens, where a pet parrot and a number of other items were stolen. It is believed that whoever is responsible entered the premises between 5am and 7.30am."

Senegal Parrots are found in the wild in open woodland of the African nation.

They are known to be gregarious animals, continuously chattering with a wide range of whistling and squawking calls.

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