Hialeah Residents Outraged After Pet Birds Stolen in Daylight Heist

HIALEAH, Fla. – Residents of a Hialeah condominium are expressing their outrage following the brazen theft of two pet birds from a balcony in broad daylight. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Thursday near West 12th Avenue and 47th Place, with the thief captured on surveillance video. The footage shows a man scaling a security gate to access a second-floor balcony, prompting strong reactions from the bird's owner and neighbors alike. Miriam Cruz, the owner of the stolen cockatiels, described the thief as a "rat," emphasizing the low nature of the crime. Cruz returned home to find her birds missing and initially thought someone had broken into her apartment. She recounted how the thief managed to hold the cage with one hand while climbing down, highlighting the audacity of the act. "I’m normally always there at that time in the living room," she lamented. Neighbors have echoed Cruz's sentiments, with Maria Salvarrey calling the theft "unnecessary" and "so low." The thief was seen on video circling the apartment complex on a moped before executing the theft, which occurred at a time when the cockatiels were typically kept indoors. Cruz, who has invested time in teaching her birds to speak and sing, is desperate to have them returned. The incident has left the community shaken, raising concerns about safety and the treatment of pets in the area.