‘Children in tears’ - thieves steal budgies from primary school

‘They won’t stand a chance if they’ve been let out’
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Thieves have stolen more than a dozen birds from a primary school in Bristol - leaving some of the children in tears. The incident happened at Brentry Primary School on Wednesday at 11.30pm.

It is believed that two people broke a lock on the school aviary to get inside. While several of the birds were stolen, some were thought to have been simply let go. The school has now started a fundraising appeal to ‘get their budgies back’.

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School business manager Hannah Jack said the aviary started with one budgie called Linda - that was found down a drain - in 2015. Hannah said: “I don’t think what people realise is that they might not be worth much but they’re a family pet to us. All day today I’ve had staff in tears, children in tears.

“Apart from the year six class we haven’t really addressed it with any other students. The year 6s look after them and for some of them they go out on a daily basis to look after them.

“It’s soul destroying, those poor budgies, they must have been so frightened last night. They won’t stand a chance if they’ve been let out. Even the ones that have been taken they’re not used to other surroundings.

“The budgies have the biggest sentimental value to us. We didn’t go out and buy 20 budgies, we’ve accumulated them through donations or breeding. We started off with one budgie called Linda that we found down a drain in 2015.

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“Lots of the parents have said they’d like to donate to a GoFundMe but to set it up again we’re talking two or three thousand pounds. In the long run we’d love to set it up again but have to go through that process.

“Lots of people and lots more children found out tonight and there’s been more tears at home. The headmaster is going to try to put together a go-fund me page and hopefully it’ll help us get back to where we were. It’s just such a cruel thing to do. It’s like taking someone’s pet but it affects so many more people.”

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.

School children with the budgies at Brentry Primary SchoolSchool children with the budgies at Brentry Primary School
School children with the budgies at Brentry Primary School

“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.’’

To donate, click here to visit the fundraising page.