What happened to 116 prized racing pigeons? Cops seek clues in South Carolina mystery
More than 100 prized racing pigeons disappeared, leading to a search for clues in South Carolina, cops say.
“This was my pride and joy you know,” owner John Georgopoulos told WSPA. “Other than you come home and it was the hobby it also was successful.”
The stolen pigeons are believed to be worth “well into the thousands of dollars,” Lt. Ryan Flood, spokesperson for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, told McClatchy News on Monday morning.
The birds were in pigeon lofts outside a house when they were taken on Aug. 7 or Aug. 8, according to the sheriff’s department. Deputies say it happened off Roper Mountain Road, which is southeast of downtown Greenville.
Some of the missing 116 birds have won competitions, making them valuable, WSPA and WYFF reported.
Pigeon racing is a sport in which birds are released and trained to come back to their lofts, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The animals are specially bred homing pigeons, selected for their speed and directional sense, experts say.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the alleged pigeon theft and asks anyone with information to contact 864-467-8293 or juburdine@greenvillecounty.org. People can also reach out to Crime Stoppers at 864-232-7463.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 12:31 PM with the headline "What happened to 116 prized racing pigeons? Cops seek clues in South Carolina mystery."
