National Police officers in Elche have arrested a 46-year-old man as the alleged perpetrator of theft and trespassing, following an investigation into the stealing of a parrot valued at around 800 euro from inside a home in the town.
The property was equipped with security cameras, and the footage was handed over to investigators. After reviewing the recordings, officers confirmed that a man entered the courtyard while taking advantage of an open front door. He then allegedly went straight to the cage where the bird was kept.
The video also showed a second man waiting outside the property next to the entrance door, who reportedly handed a T-shirt to the first man to assist him in carrying the parrot away. Both individuals then fled the scene rapidly.
Officers carried out several enquiries to identify the suspects. During the course of the investigation, various leads were verified, including the initial exclusion of one person who had been wrongly identified as a potential culprit.
Following additional intelligence gathered by investigators and further analysis of the security footage, officers successfully identified one of the alleged offenders. Once located, the man was arrested on suspicion of theft and trespassing.
During the police operation, the suspect voluntarily handed over the stolen bird, an individual with green feathers and a distinctive red patch on its head. The owner was summoned to the police station, where she positively identified the parrot as “Pongo”, the same pet that had been taken from her home, leading to its immediate return.
All police proceedings have been submitted to the judicial authorities. The investigation remains open, and further arrests have not been ruled out.
