A suspected bird bandit was caught on camera in Coconut Grove trying (and eventually succeeding) to snatch several peacocks outside a home.
Surveillance footage captured a burgundy pickup truck drive slowly through the neighborhood on Sunday morning. The suspect then parks in front of a home, and walks toward the driveway and in the direction of a handful of peacocks.
The perpetrator then gets to work. The video shows him attempting to grab several peacocks, but the birds fluttered out of his grasp.
Moments later, the man is seen running across the sidewalk with a peacock tucked under his arm.
He then sprinted to his truck and sped away — with an angry mob of peacocks on his tail.
The homeowner filed a complaint with City of Miami Police officers.
“We do want to investigate it,” said Miami Police Cmdr. Freddie Cruz.
Police said they would like to meet the bird snatcher. “For a neighbor to say that they actually saw blood and possible animal flesh, I mean, that bird could be hurt, it could be in danger,” said Cruz. “Now we have animal cruelty.”
Neighbors do not believe the subject lives in the neighborhood and do not recognize his truck.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.