Hand-Fed African Gray Parrot Stolen From Brea Pet Store Could Die If Not Returned

BREA (CBSLA.com) — A 5-month-old African gray parrot stolen from a Brea pet store will die if not returned because the young bird is still being hand-fed.

The bird was stolen Saturday about 1:30 p.m., when two men went into Omar's Exotic Birds, walking around as if they were browsing, store manager Connor Chubbuck said.

The two men spent a few minutes walking around, when one of them picked up the parrot from a bird stand, then ran out the door with the other, fleeing the store in a dark blue minivan.

The bird is 5 months old, all gray with a short, bright red tail and dark eyes. The young bird, who is still being hand-fed and will die if he's not returned, is worth $1,600, Chubbuck said.

The man who grabbed the bird was described as a black man in his 40s, about 5-foot-11 and 250-290 pounds. His companion was described as a Hispanic man in his 40s, about 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, with short black hair and a short black beard and mustache.

Anyone with information about the bird or the theft can call Brea police.