– NATIONAL POLICE
The National Police have arrested three men aged between 14 and 19 years as alleged perpetrators of the theft of at least 42 racing pigeons valued at about 30,000 euros, according to sources from the Community in a press release.
The alleged perpetrators, all of Spanish nationality, moved throughout the geography of the Region of Murcia in search of racing pigeons. To get hold of them, they used different modus operandi, adapting to the circumstances and the place they were in.
One of their techniques consisted of using a female pigeon with which they managed to attract the male pigeon while it was competing in ‘la suelta’ – a common practice in pigeon breeding which consists of releasing a female pigeon which is identified with a white feather on its tail so that the males learn to follow it – and when the male pigeons approached it, they proceeded to steal it.
The investigation led to the location and seizure of 42 sport pigeons in the area of Molino Derribao, in Cartagena, where, apparently, the detainees were hiding them for subsequent sale. The two arrested adults already had previous police records.
In order to locate the owners of the pigeons and hand over the recovered pigeons, the National Police requested the collaboration of the Murcian Federation of Pigeon Fanciers and the Seprona. This allowed the delivery of the pigeons, all of which had a high economic and sporting value.
The police actions were sent to the Examining Magistrate’s Court of Cartagena and to the Murcia Regional Prosecutor’s Office for Minors for the processing of the corresponding legal case.