The Willoughby Police Department is investigating the theft of a baby bird, Saturday.
The bird, a pineapple green-cheek Conure, was stolen from Pet Paradise on Euclid Avenue.
According to reports, three men distracted the clerk while a fourth stole the bird from an open viewing table, intended for customers to interact and bond with the animals.
Sallie Estvanik, owner of the more than 30-year-old business, is pleading for the bird's safe return as it won't survive without being hand fed through a syringe at least twice a day.
"It cannot eat regular bird food out of a bowl," Estvanik said. "Today after the one o'clock feeding, I got kind of sad."
The suspects are described at three white males in their 20's and a white older man.
The bird is valued at $329.
"It's hard to put a price on something alive."
Estvanik said she just wants the bird returned, even if that means the suspect(s) drop off the bird at a nearby business with no questions asked.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Willoughby Police at 440-953-4212.
