Three to five parrot cubs - that was the change when Helsingborg's animal and play park was greeted by parrot thieves on Sunday.

The coup must have occurred right in front of the noses of unsuspecting park guests, according to zoo owner Mats Hafström. Several of the visitors must have seen people in the parrot cage just before the theft, but did not react because it is allowed to enter.

- They have used a two meter long stepladder and a net and rolled down seven nests, says Mats Hafström.

"Hopelessly traditional"

But the thieves were not content to just steal the parrot cubs, on Monday Mats Hafström made the next sad discovery.

- There were eggs in the nests too. They have been taken and banked right into a house wall.

- The theft is one thing, but the vandalism and the fact that they are ruining for us and everyone else who feels joy from the birds ... It is hopelessly traditional, says Mats Hafström.

The parrots are of the relatively special species Bergslori, which usually breeds in Australasia. The birds, which are valued at just over SEK 2,000 each, are very beautiful but require special food, says Mats Hafström, who has a hard time seeing them survive outside the zoo.

- They are not domestic birds, but you should preferably have them in an outdoor cage. They do not survive, I have a hard time imagining that.

Stolen poisonous snakes for hundreds of thousands of kronor

The police have classified the case as theft, but at present there are no suspected perpetrators. Mats Hafström thinks the chance of getting an answer to the mystery of who stole the birds is small.

- No, it will probably be nothing out of it, unfortunately.

This is not the first time that Helsingborg's animal and play park has been greeted by thieves. A few years ago, someone broke in and stole two extremely rare palm woodpecker cubs, one yellow and one green, worth just over SEK 100,000 each.

- But then the thieves knew exactly when we were not at home and how to handle the snakes, says Mats Hafström.