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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Budgie offers after OAP's ordeal | Budgie offers after OAP's ordeal |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Police investigating a robbery in which an elderly woman's budgie was killed have been "overwhelmed" by more than 30 offers of a new bird for her. | Police investigating a robbery in which an elderly woman's budgie was killed have been "overwhelmed" by more than 30 offers of a new bird for her. |
| The budgie's neck was broken in front of the woman, 78, after she refused to hand over money during a break-in in Cardiff home on Friday evening. | The budgie's neck was broken in front of the woman, 78, after she refused to hand over money during a break-in in Cardiff home on Friday evening. |
| The two robbers escaped with £150. | The two robbers escaped with £150. |
| Offers to replace the budgie, donate money or send a card to the woman have arrived from as far afield as Canada, Australia, America and the Netherlands. | Offers to replace the budgie, donate money or send a card to the woman have arrived from as far afield as Canada, Australia, America and the Netherlands. |
| One robber was carrying a distinctive auctioneer's hammer, police also said. | One robber was carrying a distinctive auctioneer's hammer, police also said. |
| The pair broke into the house in Whitchurch Road, Cathays between 1900 GMT and 1935 GMT last Friday while the woman was watching TV. | The pair broke into the house in Whitchurch Road, Cathays between 1900 GMT and 1935 GMT last Friday while the woman was watching TV. |
| The woman would not hand over the money when the robbers demanded it and one of them killed her pet bird George in front of her. | |
| We've had over 30 calls and emails from the public wanting to donate a budgie to the victim and we think we will receive a lot more overnight Det Sgt Stuart Wales | We've had over 30 calls and emails from the public wanting to donate a budgie to the victim and we think we will receive a lot more overnight Det Sgt Stuart Wales |
| The victim was also threatened with her own walking stick, pushed into a chair and locked inside her home. | The victim was also threatened with her own walking stick, pushed into a chair and locked inside her home. |
| Police said the death of the budgie meant the elderly victim had lost her "soulmate". | Police said the death of the budgie meant the elderly victim had lost her "soulmate". |
| Detectives said offers of a replacement bird for her have come in from pet shops, budgie breeders and generous members of the public. | Detectives said offers of a replacement bird for her have come in from pet shops, budgie breeders and generous members of the public. |
| Det Sgt Stuart Wales of Cathays CID said officers have been "overwhelmed" by the offers which have flooded in from around the UK as well as overseas. | Det Sgt Stuart Wales of Cathays CID said officers have been "overwhelmed" by the offers which have flooded in from around the UK as well as overseas. |
| "We've had over 30 calls and emails from the public wanting to donate a budgie to the victim and we think we will receive a lot more overnight," he said. | "We've had over 30 calls and emails from the public wanting to donate a budgie to the victim and we think we will receive a lot more overnight," he said. |
| "We would like to thank those people and reassure that public that we're very appreciative and we will discuss with the victim, at an appropriate time, how she feels about these offers." | "We would like to thank those people and reassure that public that we're very appreciative and we will discuss with the victim, at an appropriate time, how she feels about these offers." |
| 'Unusual object' | 'Unusual object' |
| The detective appealed again for help in catching those responsible for "this despicable crime". | The detective appealed again for help in catching those responsible for "this despicable crime". |
| "Now that we have completed a full interview process, it is apparent that one of the men was carrying a golden-coloured auctioneer's hammer, which is a very unusual object. | "Now that we have completed a full interview process, it is apparent that one of the men was carrying a golden-coloured auctioneer's hammer, which is a very unusual object. |
| Det Sgt Wales issued fresh descriptions of the men who were both white and possibly in their 20s. | Det Sgt Wales issued fresh descriptions of the men who were both white and possibly in their 20s. |
| The man who killed the budgie is described as thin, of average height, with a pale complexion and a Cardiff accent. | The man who killed the budgie is described as thin, of average height, with a pale complexion and a Cardiff accent. |
| He was wearing a black beanie hat, dark scarf across his face, dark woollen gloves with a white square type pattern, a dark track suit top and bottoms. | He was wearing a black beanie hat, dark scarf across his face, dark woollen gloves with a white square type pattern, a dark track suit top and bottoms. |
| The second man is shorter and of medium build. | The second man is shorter and of medium build. |
| Officers said he walked in a distinctive way, bobbing from side to side, and had a stooped neck. | Officers said he walked in a distinctive way, bobbing from side to side, and had a stooped neck. |
| He also wore a dark beanie hat and scarf, a dark brown anorak jacket, track suit bottoms and dark gloves. | He also wore a dark beanie hat and scarf, a dark brown anorak jacket, track suit bottoms and dark gloves. |
| Anyone with information about the incident should contact the police incident room on 029 20527267, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. | Anyone with information about the incident should contact the police incident room on 029 20527267, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. |