THIEVES have emptied two well-stocked aviaries in a Felixstowe back garden, stealing 42 exotic birds worth a total of more than £1,000. Felixstowe grandma Carol Wright, who used to enjoy hearing and looking at the cockatiels, love birds and budgies, is now considering having the aviaries demolished to take away the pain.

THIEVES have emptied two well-stocked aviaries in a Felixstowe back garden, stealing 42 exotic birds worth a total of more than £1,000.

Felixstowe grandma Carol Wright, who used to enjoy hearing and looking at the cockatiels, love birds and budgies, is now considering having the aviaries demolished to take away the pain.

Mrs Wright, 54, of Cavendish Road, said: "It's upsetting – it's like a big part of the family has gone.

"It is upsetting because we think if somebody wanted a bird why didn't they come and ask. Once they had bred I would have given them to him.

"It's upsetting that they could steal them and damage them. They could kill them or break a wing.

"In the summer my neighbours come round, I have a swing out there and a bench, it's lovely, I have a fish pond, it's lovely in the summer to just watch," she said.

Mrs Wright is now reconsidering her bird-keeping future as some of the exotic species cost up to £80 each.

"They're getting expensive now – I don't know whether to buy more or pull the aviaries down.

"The green ring necks were £150 for the two and I bought them for my husband. I love all types of birds but they were all my favourite."

Between 5.30pm on Friday, October 18 and 9.15am on Saturday October 19 someone broke in to the aviaries and stole three red rump, four Rosella birds, two pairs of love birds, two pairs of cockatiels, 14 budgies, one pair of green ring necks, ten zebra finches and two quails.

Mrs Wright said: "I have been to the pet shops in the area and I have phoned all the pet shops in Ipswich. I even got in touch with Bury market but I have tried everything I can. The bloke at Bury thought whoever took them had a buyer ready for them."

Mrs Wright had been away in Ixworth helping her brother move house when the thieves went into her back garden to steal the birds.

Her husband Trevor had stayed at home and had heard his large black Labrador, Dempsy, growling at 2am on the Saturday, but he thought nothing of it. However when he went in to the garden later that day he saw every single one of the birds had been taken, including two partly-feathered baby cockatiels who were still not strong enough to come out of their box.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, or who may have since been offered the birds to contact PC Willson at Felixstowe police on 01473 613500.