Parrot Stolen In Simi Valley, CA

[FairLight]

Rick Green talks Monday about his prized parrot, Boogy, which was taken Friday by a woman from outside a Simi Valley coffee shop while he was inside buying coffee.



Boogy, the missing parrot of Simi resident Rick Green, was "the love of my life," the former truck driver says.



Woman takes bird from ill Simi man
Parrot spirited away at coffee shop

By Teresa Rochester trochester@VenturaCountyStar.com
November 1, 2004

A woman snatched Boogy the parrot from a table outside a Simi Valley Starbucks on Friday.

Talking about it makes Boogy's owner's voice crack with tears.



"She has taken my whole life away from me," said Rick Green of Simi Valley. "She has taken my baby. She has taken the love of my life."

Green and Boogy would visit the Starbucks coffee shop at Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street at least four times a week.

The coffeehouse offered the mostly bedridden Green a respite from his solitude, the way Boogy offered him distraction from his pain.

The 49-year-old former trucker has complications from diabetes, fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy.

On Friday, the pair made their usual sojourn, with Green dropping the 2-year-old parrot off at a table as he went to Baja Fresh to pick up tortilla chips the parrot liked.

Green left the chips with Boogy and then went into Starbucks.

When he returned, the beloved bird that curled up with a stuffed Incredible Hulk doll at night was gone.

"I screamed, 'No,' " said Green. "You could hear me a mile away."

A witness told police that as Boogy sat unattended on the chair, a woman with brown hair picked up Boogy, placed her on her shoulder and walked away.

The woman, described as 5 feet 6 inches tall with a medium build, then got into a silver-colored car and drove away.

Sgt. Paul Fitzpatrick with the Simi Valley Police Department, said there is no license plate or other information to go on.

If caught, the woman could face a charge of felony grand theft.

Stooped over a cane, Green hobbled to his electric wheelchair and settled himself into it.

He displayed a poster he had made for his search for Boogy. He sat vigil with it on Sunday outside the Starbucks, where a flier with the bird's picture is also on display.

Green brought Boogy home to his room on Alamo Street when the bird was 5 months old.

His girlfriend had just died from pancreatic cancer when a breeder called him about a pair of yellow nape Amazon parrots he had.

The breeder offered to sell one at a discounted price because Green lives on Social Security disability payments.

When Green went to see the birds, he instantly connected with Boogy, who earned her name after "singing" along as Alicia Keys' song "A Woman's Worth" played on the radio.

"She bonded with me," said Green. "She just loved music. She would take her right foot and gently hold my nose. She would lay on my stomach and give me kisses."

Boogy can say its name as well as "Polly wanna cracker" and "bye-bye."

Green said that whoever took the bird can drop it off anonymously at any pet shop in Simi Valley or at the Starbucks where the pet was taken.

Anyone with information can call the Simi Valley Police Department at 583-6950.

[kathyellen]

I live in So.CA
I saw this article in the newspaper and thought it was a truly sad story. I feel for this man, but cannot understand why he would EVER leave Boogy unattended... :( if the coffee shop would not let him bring him in on his shoulder than find another one!! :!: I hope they find this woman!!! Obviously she planned this out and it's just money to her!!!

[FairLight]

unattended, no matter what!
I think some people are very trusting. I never left my children alone, nor my birdy.
On another note, a CAG is also missing from Simi Valley.
I don't know the circumstances, my daughter saw a "lost" add posted around town.
My heart aches for these birdies, they are so vulnerable if not protected
as much as possible.
Of course, things happen beyond our control, sadly.
It is my wish and prayer that all those lost will come home or be in good care.

[jessicaboyer89]

Me too, FairLight. :(

It is my wish and prayer that all those lost will come home or be in good care.

[otisbird]

I have pictures of Rick Green & the amazon Boogy. Is there anyway to post them to this board so incase anyone in Southern CA sees Boogy???

[FairLight]

I don't know how to post pictures, hope someone here can help.
A substantial reward has been offered for any information regarding Boogy or the low life who stole her.
This is so sad. Those of us who know and understand the relationship between human and bird will feel so much more acutely the loss.
We experience the intellegence and sensitivity of our birds in a way that many others do not.
Boogy, we all want you back home!
Blessings,
Linda in CA

[FairLight]

Missing parrot found
By Teresa Rochester, trochester@VenturaCountyStar.com
November 17, 2004
After 20 agonizing days of separation, an ailing Simi Valley man will be
reunited this afternoon with his stolen parrot, Boogie.
Rick Green received the good news from Simi Valley Police Detective Doug
Pedersen in an early morning phone call today.



"This is just a miracle come true," Green said. "I'm going to go out and
treat her to whatever she wants. I'll take her to Spago, whatever."
Pedersen drove to Valencia this morning to pick up the 2-year-old yellow
nape Amazon parrot from a woman who spotted the bird sitting on a chair
outside of the Starbucks on Tapo Canyon Road on Oct. 29.
The woman thought the bird had been abandoned, said Sgt. Joe May said,
police spokesman. She placed her on her shoulder, got into a car and drove
away.
Green was in the coffee house at the time ordering a drink. He had left
Boogie on the chair after fetching it tortilla chips from Baja Fresh because
it was not allowed inside the store.
Meanwhile, the woman who took Boogie left her in the care of a family member
and went on a cruise. When she returned, she realized the bird had an owner.
"It is not being treated as a crime," May said. "It's still going to be
investigated."
During Boogie's absence, Green, who has fibromyalgia, diabetes and other
ailments, launched a frenzied search throughout Simi Valley. He put up
posters citywide and set up a fund at a local bank. He received a flood of
support statewide.
"I'm just elated about all the support I've received," he said. "Even the
Boy Scouts were going to come out and help me make posters. ... I've just
had tremendous support from Seattle to San Diego."

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
From FairLight: At least she is home, though I have my doubts about the
cruise mix-up, ect. I believe an honest person would inquire if any one had been seen with the bird. Not just take it and run....I hope the investigation will continue. This case could set a precedent and a warning to bird nappers if she is prosecuted.



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[Chariclo]

Thanks for the update - that is great! I am happy about the reunion - however, I just hope he is a lot more careful in the future. Doesn't really matter if her story is true or not - he shouldn't have left that bird alone outside - IMO.

[FairLight]

Doesn't really matter if her story is true or not - he shouldn't have left that bird alone outside - IMO.
_________________
Melissa, I agree 1000%!
Our fids are really like small children, never to be left unguarded.
I do hope the owner is now aware of the need to always monitor his bird.

[Lynjupiter]

[quote="FairLight"]Doesn't really matter if her story is true or not - he shouldn't have left that bird alone outside - IMO.quote]

I agree, that is like leaving a purse full on money sitting on a table and walking away. Not very smart at all. To a lot of people big birds are big dollar signs.

Lynda