POLICE have managed track down and rescue the parrot chick stolen from an uMhlanga pet store on Saturday last week. According to Lt Raymond Deokaran of the Durban North SAPS, the breakthrough was made after he, along with W/O Kenneth Chinnah and W/O Jethan Nandlall, acted on information received from an informant.
The information led the trio to the suspect’s property in Verulam, where they discovered the eight-week-old African Grey parrot. The suspect (47), captured on CCTV footage, was also arrested and later admitted that he had been wrong to steal the six week old parrot.
Deokaran confirmed that the chick appeared to be healthy, albeit a bit hungry. The tiny creature was immediately raced to the pet shop so that staff could assess its health.
Hawa Deedat, one of the store owners, said she was thrilled and relieved that the parrot had been found. “It appears to be unharmed. At this point we haven’t taken it to a vet, but we plan on doing that tomorrow.”