Linda squawked alone for the first time in decades after a thief on a bicycle rode up and stole her longtime partner, Lindo, from the cage they shared in front of a Brooklyn laundromat.
The Park Slope neighborhood where the bird-napping took place was outraged after hearing of the heartless crime, one that was caught on camera. The owner of the laundromat and the birds said the parrots have been a staple of the community for over 20 years.
“Everyone is feeling bad around the neighborhood,” owner Anbioris Garcia told NBC New York on Friday.
For 21 years, the Amazon parrots have gazed, sat on 4th Avenue and lightened loads to anyone walking by or stopping in to clean some laundry.
“I can’t imagine who would do that. They just make the neighborhood smile,” Hunter Walker said.
“Laundry is the least fun activity, so they brighten up the experience,” Rebecca Webber said.
Garcia shared video of the reported theft from Monday, July 1. The video showed a man on a bike roll up and look into the bird cage. He leaves, but comes back a short while later. That’s when he opens the door and reached for Linda, but she flew away and bit him.
“He came back. He open the cage again, he take the Lindo one,” Garcia explained.
“I literally just found out. It broke my heart,” Sara Gatling said.
In the days since Lindo’s disappearance, wanted posters were plastered on the front windows of the laundromat in hopes of finding the kidnapped parrot.
“They brighten up the experience.”
Rebecca Webber on seeing Linda and Lindo while doing laundry
His bird-napper was last seen wearing a bright orange hat, dark jacket and shorts.
“Just bring him home, nothing is going to happen to you. Bring him home,” Angelica Riviera said.
Someone apparently heard those very cries. On Saturday, Lindo was safely returned to Garcia and Linda.
For now, the mystery remains who took Lindo in the first place and why.
