At least 45 parrots stolen from LI pet store

  Eyewitness News

(Rockville Centre - WABC, August 14, 2007) (WABC) -- Police are investigating a pet store burglary Tuesday, with tens of thousands of dollars worth of parrots stolen.

It happened inside a pet store in Rockville Centre.

Eyewitness News reporter Emily Smith has more on what happened.

Police say the thief or thieves stole two cages of parrots. The store owner says he sells about one parrot a week for a $1,000 apiece. Now, he's not only a financial mess, but an emotional one.

The African grey parrot can say as many words as a toddler, but he's not talking today. The pet store owner says it's because of the empty space where two wire cages filled with dozens of other parrots once sat.

"The fact that you've been watched and may be targeted in the future is a scary thought," owner Mark Moorone said.

Moorone says someone broke into Parrots of the World through a back window early this morning, walking off with at least 45 parrots.

Police believe the burglar knows birds, since the ones stolen costs thousands.

"It's disbelief," Moorone said. "I had to pinch myself. Maybe I didn't wake up yet. Maybe I was still dreaming. It wasn't a dream it was a nightmare!"

Moorone says it's beyond criminal. It's emotional to see his beloved birds gone. They are animals who he says actually know and recognize the regulars.

"I can't believe it," customer Jennifer LoRusso said. "I'm going to cry, because these babies, I have four of them myself."

Bird lovers know Amazons and African greys as exclusive birds that are as easygoing as they are loving.

But they need a caretaker, not a criminal, to care for them.

"People who are very good thieves are very bad people, and very bad people are very bad pet keepers, so they're not going to be taking care of these animals at all," Moorone said.

Again, these birds are valued at more than $58,000. Police say that's a lot of money in stolen property. Anyone with information on these birds is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. A reward is available.

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