Dozens of Expensive Peacocks Stolen in Brazen Bird-Napping
An iconic hotel in California is stupefied after finding out that 36 of their 40 prized peacocks have somehow vanished.
The mystery is unfolding at Ryde Hotel in Walnut Grove, which is between Sacramento and San Francisco. According to the New York Post, the beloved birds each cost around $2,000. They roam the grounds freely, delighting guests who are at the venue for weddings and countless other events.
The outlet reports that hotel staff were notified about something fishy going on Sunday, when a guest spotted two men grabbing the birds, which were then put in a cage and loaded onto a pickup truck.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is now investigating what they've labeled as property crime. In the wake of the bird heist, the hotel is now installing more security cameras.
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“We’re not sure why anyone would do anything like this, but the staff is absolutely heartbroken,” general manager David Nielsen told The Post.
The peacocks first hit the ground some 14 years ago, when the hotel's owner initially brought in five to wander the opulent grounds. Soon enough, five became a flock.
The Ryde Hotel is "perched like a jewel in its peaceful setting on the orchard-lined banks of the Sacramento River, the inviting peach-tone facade of the Ryde literally stops traffic. Its reputation as a California Delta wedding venue and event center is second to none – and home of a Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffet that has been enjoyed by generations of families and friends."