Residents Upset After Pet Birds Stolen From Balcony Of South Florida Condo

Hialeah, FL - Police in South Florida are searching for a man who was caught on camera stealing two pet cockatiels from a second-floor balcony of a Hialeah condo in broad daylight.

Authorities say the robbery, captured on security camera, occurred around 2 p.m. Thursday near West 12th Avenue and 47th Place.

The video captured a man scaling a first-floor apartment security gate to reach the second-floor balcony.

Miriam Cruz, the owner of the two cockatiels, discovered the birds and their cage missing when she returned home.

Initially, she thought someone had broken into her unit.

In the footage, the thief is seen climbing down with the birdcage in one hand while holding onto the building with the other.

Cruz, who is typically home at that time, expressed her frustration, calling the thief "a rat."

Neighbors are equally upset, describing the theft as unnecessary and low.

The video also shows the man driving past the apartment on a moped before turning around and entering the parking lot.

Cruz, who taught her birds to speak and sing, is desperate to get them back.

The cockatiels are usually kept inside, but the thief struck at a time when they were on the balcony.