Stolen Parrot Causes Owners to Take Action

On Monday, a couple in the East Lake area lost a very dear friend during a burglary.

Their pet parrot was stolen, and now, they want to take action. They tell us right now they aren't sure what they will do, but they do know, that they are tired of the crime in the East Lake area.

In twelve years William and Sheril Roper say they've been robbed three times and they say, their bird being stolen, was just the icing on the cake.

Today William and Sheril Roper flocked to pet stores around Chattanooga in search of Rainbow, their Amazon Parrot that was plucked from his perch while they were out of town.

Sheril Roper says, "We've had him 12 years he's very sentimental, and my son is the one that bought him for us for a christmas present."

A present they say is priceless.

"Guns jewelry money that's all replaceable but sentimental items like cribs and birds and pets that have sentimental value are irreplaceable," says William Roper.

They want police to get a bird's eye view of the crime in their neighborhood because this isn't the first time that William has been robbed and now that Rainbow is gone, he says it is time to take action. That's why he is gathering people in the area to start a new neighborhood watch program.

Neighbor David Mays says he didn't know William and Sheril until Rainbow was stolen but after also being robbed this week, he says he's joining William's flock to fight crime.

David Mays says, "its really upsetting to think that someone has walked through your house and taken the liberties of getting everything you have and I'm with him on this.

Roper says he will do whatever it takes to keep his neighborhood safe. His first priority is to find his bird.

William Roper says, "It's a void that won't be filled i mean we could probably get another bird, but it wont be rainbow."