Thieves have stolen 27 racing pigeons worth thousands of pounds from a sports club in eastern Spain.<\/p>\n
Two hooded intruders raided the municipal flying grounds … of the La Uni\u00f3n de Mislata Pigeon Racing Society in Valencia at around 11.15pm last Thursday.<\/p>\n
CCTV footage shows the suspects scaling a perimeter wall before breaking into the competition birds’ enclosures one by one.<\/p>\n
The incident marks the sixth time the council-owned facility has been targeted by thieves this year.<\/p>\n
Francisco Jos\u00e9 Pascual, president of the local club, expressed his deep frustration over the recurring security breaches.<\/p>\n
“We spend months breeding and training these specimens,” Pascual said. “In one fell swoop, they tear away our hopes. But the worst part is the reoffending.<\/p>\n
“You feel completely helpless because as soon as you replace the birds, they break in again. It also raises serious concerns about personal safety if a member were to cross paths with these thieves.”<\/p>\n
Club members have already raised the issue with Mislata Council and are seeking an urgent meeting with the mayor, Carlos Fern\u00e1ndez Bielsa, to discuss low-cost security alternatives.<\/p>\n
The theft is part of a growing wave of high-value pigeon rustling across the Valencia and Murcia regions, where the traditional sport boasts a dedicated following.<\/p>\n
In November last year, a similar theft turned fatal when an off-duty National Police officer caught two brothers attempting to steal racing pigeons in the nearby town of Vinalesa. The officer was struck in the head with a stone and died in hospital days later.<\/p>\n
In August last year, thieves in Fortuna made off with three prized champion pigeons – named ‘Sordo’, ‘Gran Capit\u00e1n’, and ‘Joker’ – valued at an estimated 170,000 euros.<\/p>\n
Local police are currently analysing the CCTV footage from the latest raid in Mislata as investigations continue.<\/p>\n
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