4 teens arrested in string of pigeon thefts, Hialeah police say

HIALEAH, Fla. – Four teenagers have been arrested in connection with a string of pigeon thefts, Hialeah police said.

The teens, ages 14 to 17, are suspected to be tied to five separate burglaries in Hialeah in the past two days, according to police.

Police said the teens would jump fences into the backyards of homes and steal the messenger pigeons. Police said the pigeons, which are kept by their owners as pets, sport and hobby, were stolen from cages kept in the homeowners' backyards.

After they were stolen, the birds are usually sold for a fraction of their actual value. Police said each bird is valued at about $100, totaling about $3,900 for all 39 birds that were stolen.

The teens tried to sell the 39 pigeons at a Hialeah pet shop earlier Wednesday, police said.

All four teens face charges of dealing in stolen property. Police said all of the birds are safe and would be returned to their rightful owners.