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Disabled St Blazey man devastated after thieves stole his canaries

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A DISABLED man has been left devastated after callous thieves broke into his aviary, stole his beloved canaries and left their fledglings to die.

"It's the only bit of pleasure my husband has with being disabled. He could just about see the yellow canaries with being nearly blind. They were his pride and joy," said wife Sally Grainger, 55.

"What low life would do something like that? We're devastated – absolutely gutless."

Bill Grainger – known to friends as Bolsch – reared the birds from young and used to enjoy sitting in the garden listening to them sing.

The 64-year-old retired ground worker, who lives at Landreath Place in St Blazey, lost a leg due to diabetes and is nearly blind.

Police said the thief broke into their rear garden between 6pm on Wednesday, May 29, and 8am the next morning.

They unlocked the aviary before snatching the six adult birds as well as a carrying cage. All that was left were three babies, which died overnight, four eggs and a muddy footprint.

"There was nothing left – all dead – except four abandoned eggs, but they would never hatch without the parent birds to keep them warm," said Mrs Grainger, who discovered the devastation.

"If they had taken them all at least I could have thought they were together.

"We went to a pet shop to get some more but they were about £50 per bird. Who can afford that?

"Whoever did it knew what they were doing because they took the carrying cage and you can't see the aviary from the road. We have our suspicions.

"I want people to be aware. We just feel so cross that they murdered those birds."

She said the couple also keep finches, which were left intact as they are not as valuable, but Mr Grainger can't see them because they are not colourful enough.

Friend and neighbour Shaun Chapman, 46, who also lives in Landreath Place, said: "It's terrible – the only enjoyment he had was his birds, and those canaries were beautiful."

Mervyn Osborne, a judge for Cornwall's Caged Bird Society, said he had 30 of his 80 birds stolen about six or seven years ago.

"This doesn't happen often. The last incidence I heard of was about three years ago," he said.

"The poor chap must be heartbroken. It took me 30 years to build my collection and then someone swooped and took the biggest part of them overnight.

"These thieves are worse than foxes, especially leaving the babies to die.

"People should be aware and tell the police if they are offered canaries at a cheap price. I would advise bird keepers to use bolts on their aviaries as well as locks, so thieves can't prize them open."

St Austell police inspector Stuart Gibbons said: "It's a despicable crime with no concern for the feelings of the victims.

"It is clearly unusual and has caused great distress to the birds' owners. We would like to hear from anyone with information, either on the crime or anyone who has been offered birds matching the description for sale."

Call PC Bob Toms on 101 quoting GW/13/418.

Disabled St Blazey man devastated after thieves stole his canaries


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