Shopper snatches $2,400 bird from cage and shoves it in her purse, Florida cops say
.png "Surveillance video shared from the shop was posted online and shows the suspect was browsing at the shop inside Oldsmar Flea Market in Florida, officials say.")
A $2,400 exotic bird found itself in undignified circumstances when a woman stuffed it into a purse and walked out of a Florida pet shop without paying, detectives say.
The unique case of grand theft happened just before 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Everything Birds in the Oldsmar Flea Market, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Bandit, as the bird is known, is a Black Headed Caique and still dependent on hand feeding, the shop said on Facebook.
“The suspect was observed on surveillance video removing the bird from a container where guests can pet and interact with the animals,” the sheriff’s office noted. “The suspect is seen quickly placing the bird into her large purse before exiting the store.”
Surveillance video shared on social media by the bird shop is credited with leading to the arrest of a 54-year-old woman in Largo, about a 15-mile drive southwest from the store.
“Two anonymous citizens contacted the store owners through social media, identifying the suspect,” officials said. “She agreed to return the bird and was taken into custody.”
The woman was arrested and charged with felony grand theft, officials said.
Everything Birds reports Bandit “seems in good health and is back on his hand feeding schedule.”
Oldsmar is about a 15-mile drive northwest from downtown Tampa.
This story was originally published September 9, 2024 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Shopper snatches $2,400 bird from cage and shoves it in her purse, Florida cops say."