Pet monkey stolen
Glen Burnie, MD (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 2, 2005
County: Anne Arundel
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Barbara Kursch, of Glen Burnie, woman told county police her son's 8-month-old Capuchin monkey was stolen on the morning of Feb 2. Police said the incident happened about 8:30 a.m. at a Baylor Road home.
Ms. Kursch told police she came home to feed the animal when she made the discovery.
"All we know is she says someone broke into her house and stole it," said Sgt. Shawn Urbas, a county police spokesman.
Owner Brian Howard told police a neighbor first noticed the break-in after one of the family's two dogs started barking. He said they later discovered someone had pulled into the driveway, bashed the front door in with a cinder block and snatched the female monkey.
A white-threaded Capuchin, Janey is one of two. Mr. Knight also owns an 8-year-old named Nikki.
"Whoever did it knew what they were doing," said Mr. Knight, who discovered a pile of wooden chips - the monkey's bedding - scattered outside.
The pet was valued at $7,000 and there are no suspects.
It's a first for county police who, despite having wrangled with horses, wallabies and other Noah's Ark favorites over the years, haven't ever been sent on a wild goose chase, Sgt. Urbas said.
"We don't recall any other monkey kidnappings," he said.
Hailing from south central America, the inquisitive Capuchin species is frequently a favorite for exotic pet collectors - not necessarily a good thing, according to Sue Beatty, executive director of the county Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"They're very cute as babies," she said. "(But) most cases, when they become sexually mature, they become aggressive."
Even if the monkey is found, there may not be a happy ending. Sgt. Urbas said. Though the state Department of Natural Resources has no restriction on exotic pets, the county does.
"I believe this monkey falls under that," he said, adding owners can be cited and the animals can be placed in shelters pending investigation. "We take it on a case-by-case basis."
For now, Mr. Knight said he is focusing on getting more locks for his doors.
"It just belwilders me that someone could actually go to your front door, put a cinder block through � and nobody in the neighborhood has seen it." References |
