TOTOWA, N.J. (WCBS 880) — Police in New Jersey are searching for a family of three who allegedly stole three parakeets from a pet store over the weekend.
The theft was reported at the Paterson Bird Store on Furler Street in Totowa around 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The three, who are assumed to be a family, entered the store with an orange tabby cat inside a carrier.
An employee at the store told the three that the cat could not go near the birds, but the man and child proceeded to the birdcage area where they swiped the birds.
Authorities noted two of the birds were rose colored and the third was green.
Store officials told WABC-TV that the birds that were taken were all young, especially the green colored parakeet, which is being hand fed by staff.
They said if the bird does not get a special formula soon, it could die.
"I feel terrible for the birds," the store owner told the news organization. "Hopefully the birds are in good hands somewhere. The birds could be sold already to someone else."
Authorities ask that anyone with information of the identity of the suspects contact the Totowa Police Department at 973-790-3700.