Two Hawks Stolen From Bird Centre

Two Harris hawks have been stolen from a bird of prey centre.

Staff at the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre discovered the break-in when they were checking the birds as part of their normal routine yesterday morning.

The theft happened between 5pm on Monday and around 9.30am yesterday.

Centre staff are concerned for the wellbeing of the birds, a four-and-a-half-year-old female called Camay and a two-and-a half-year-old male named Terco.

Centre director Stewart Robertson said: "We're concerned about their welfare because we are not sure how they are being looked after. It is worrying because we just don't know.

"They may be with people who are not aware of what they require, food-wise and health-wise.

"It's upsetting when you think that someone would take them and not really think about the effect it has on the people who have looked after these birds since they were very young.

"And at the end of the day the cash value of these birds is pretty low.''

He urged people to keep their eyes and ears open for signs of the birds.

The male Harris Hawk has been at the centre in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, since it was 12 weeks old and the female since it was aged 20 weeks.

Police urged anyone with information to contact them. Constable Andrew Crawford said: "Detectives are currently carrying out inquiries in the local area to gather more information on this crime and who is responsible. They are studying CCTV footage and speaking to people in the local area in case they witnessed anything vital to this investigation.

"The theft took place between 5pm on Monday 2 March and 9.30am on Tuesday 3 March 2015, and I would urge anyone who may have been in the local area around those times who has information to come forward.

"Birds of prey are part of Scotland's identity and I would also ask anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of these two birds to contact Police Scotland as a matter of urgency to ensure their safe recovery.''