Teachers and children at a Bristol primary school were left in tears this morning after heartless thieves broke into the school and stole all their pet budgies.
Brentry Primary School had 20 budgies in a purpose-built heated aviary, but last night at just after 11.30pm, two people got into the school, broke the lock to the door and took all the birds. Shocked pupils and staff say they feel ‘devastated’ and fear they will never see their beloved birds again.
The school caretaker realised the birds were gone just after 6am this morning (Thursday, March 9) and CCTV revealed two people getting into the aviary and then walking off, carrying the birds in three breeding boxes that were stored in the aviary.
Read next: Man filmed on smash-and-grab booze raid at Kingswood Lidl
But school business manager Hannah Jack said because the boxes would not have been big enough to carry all the birds, they fear some of the 20 may well have flown off into the freezing night. Now the school is appealing for anyone who knows anything about who took the birds, or someone who is suddenly offering budgies for sale, to get in touch.
“It is absolutely heartbreaking,” said Hannah, who is also the chair of the school’s PTA. “We are all devastated, we’ve had teachers in tears, children in tears. They really are part of the family, everyone loves them and it’s so terrible they’ve been taken like this. Why would someone do this?” she added.
The aviary started off around seven years ago when two budgies were donated, and by coincidence, a third was found and rescued from a drain on the school site.
When the school was refurbished and rebuilt five years ago, a purpose-built aviary was constructed with all mod cons for a much-loved budgie - indoor heated areas and plenty of room for them to fly around in. Over the years, more have been donated and the budgies have also bred themselves, so by yesterday there were 20 at the school. Today, there are none.
“The Year 6s are responsible for them, and it’s a big thing,” said Hannah. “They have to feed and water them, clean the aviary out and look after them. At the weekends, the site caretaker looks after them. They are well-loved and it’s been lovely that they’ve been able to breed.
“The ones that might have flown away, they won’t survive. It’s too cold and they’ll get attacked too. We’ve had problems before with other birds coming and attacking them or trying to get to them in the aviary,” she added.
“It’s just so awful that someone would do this. They’ve climbed into the reception play area and then got round to the aviary, smashed open the bolt and got in. It’s just so sad,” she added.
The police have been called, and the school has checked with immediate neighbours to see if the thieves were caught on CCTV or any vehicle was filmed at the time - after 11.30pm late on Wednesday night.
“We’re not hopeful we’re going to get them back, but someone must know something about where they are now,” added Hannah.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: "Police are appealing for witnesses and information after thieves stole around 15 budgerigars from an aviary at Brentry Primary School at about 11.30pm last night, Wednesday 8 March.
"If you have any CCTV or dashcam footage which could help, or any other information about the burglary, which was reported this morning, Thursday 9 March, please call 101 and give the reference 5223056008.
"Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously by calling 0800 555 111, or online at Crimestoppers here.
Sign up for our new Bristol's Court Insider newsletter for the latest court and crime news - from arrests to trials and sentencings
READ NEXT:
