Crime & Safety

Man Nabs $3,800 Endangered Bird, Leaves St. Pete Pet Store: Cops

Surveillance video captured the man reaching into the red-fronted Macaw's cage at a local pet store and picking up the bird and leaving.

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Police said that the red-fronted Macaw which was stolen from a St. Petersburg pet store this week has a value of $3,800 and is considered endangered in the wild.
Police said that the red-fronted Macaw which was stolen from a St. Petersburg pet store this week has a value of $3,800 and is considered endangered in the wild. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA — A man who walked into a St. Petersburg pet store and walked out with a valuable bird worth $3,800 is being sought by police after the man was captured on video stealing the endangered species.

Video, posted to the St. Petersburg Police Department’s Facebook page, shows the man wearing a maroon shirt, black hoodie and khaki shorts walking over to a cage where a red-fronted Macaw was being displayed at the Animal Pet Center on 34th Avenue.

The man’s face is seen briefly on video after he pulled his mask down off of his face. Video then shows the man taking a lid off of the cage, reaching in, scooping the bird up and walking away.

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Police said that the bird is endangered in the wild. If anyone has information about the incident, they are asked to message authorities on Facebook or contact St. Petersburg Police at (727) 893-7780, or text SPPD and your tip to TIP411. Refer to report 2021-041324

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