Rufus the pigeon-scaring hawk has gone missing from Wimbledon, and police are ruling the disappearance as a kidnapping — er, a birdnapping. Or whatever. Point is, he was stolen.
The bird was last seen in his owner’s parked car on a residential street less than three miles away from the tournament. Rufus, a harrier hawk, reportedly was stolen with his cage from the car overnight on Thursday. The car’s rear window was open for ventilation and may have facilitated the theft.
“I thought it was something that was going to be fine for him and secure,” Imogen Davies told the BBC. “If I could change something I would. If I could, I would have put him next to my bed.
“It’s hard to get your head around. We just want to know he’s OK.”
Rufus, 4, has had a regular presence at the tournament. He prevented pigeons from roosting in the roof at Centre Court and presumably pooping on spectators at the All-England Club.
UPDATE: Rufus. Found.
EXCLUSIVE PICTURE: @RufustheHawk has been reunited with his owner Imogen after being found on Wimbledon Common. twitter.com/londontonight/…
— ITV London Tonight (@londontonight) July 1, 2012
H/T Sports by Brooks Live
Photo via @RufusTheHawk
