A booty that chirps and flaps its wings.
Victim of a break-in during the night from Wednesday to Thursday, a resident of Houilles (Yvelines) had the unpleasant surprise of discovering in the early morning that the burglars had in fact gotten their hands on... his rich collection of birds.
In total, nearly 120 birds – mainly canaries and carduelis (goldfinches) – were stolen from his aviary.
Valuable birds which can reach several hundred euros for some, hence the imposing amount of the estimated damage: almost 50,000 euros.
The events took place in the middle of the night, while this amateur breeder was sleeping peacefully in the adjoining house.
The thieves entered the aviary by passing through neighboring land and then breaking part of the roof.
In any case, this is what the video surveillance images demonstrate.
Because nothing escaped the small camera carefully placed by the owner in the small construction dedicated to birds.
The flight filmed from start to finish
We know that the break-in took place around 1:30 a.m., that the team included three men but that only one individual was responsible for capturing the birds, then extracting them from the aviary using the small cages also stolen from the collector.
A man obviously used to grabbing birds.
Also read: Roissy Airport: he hid 80 birds in his three hand luggage
Only a few escaped the captor or were left behind, some being injured.
Seeds intended for food were also stolen.
The criminal seems to have only noticed the presence of this camera once his crime was completed, then attempting to clumsily hide the lens.
This theft from the collector's home obviously suggests the existence of new bird trafficking.
Last year, the international resale network was dismantled in Île-de-France.
Dozens of people were arrested on suspicion of selling goldfinches in large numbers to individuals.