Overview
- The Aug. 24 break-in at a Fortuna palomar targeted only Sordo, Gran Capitán and Joker among roughly 40 birds, indicating prior knowledge and planning.
- Owners filed a complaint and the Guardia Civil’s Santomera unit dusted for fingerprints, with no recovery reported as of Sept. 1.
- Investigators have prioritized suspects within the colombiculture community who have records for similar thefts, according to the owners.
- Each pigeon bears a unique identification ring, and none was wearing a GPS tracker when stolen, complicating recovery and limiting use in official competitions or resale.
- Regional federations and WhatsApp groups distributed the birds’ ID numbers to obstruct transactions, and the owners considered a reward before deciding against it.