One of two exotic birds stolen from a Concord pet store last month has been found and reunited with its owner, and at least one suspect has been arrested, police announced Wednesday.
The birds, Tofu and Plato, were stolen during a burglary at Feathered Follies in early September, according to police. Tofu ended up being sold multiple times before turning up in Southern California and later getting returned to Feathered Follies owner Mercedes Kemp.
"We're just too joyous to feel anything anymore," Kemp said. "It was like heaven."
The stolen bird case had gone cold for a time until recently when Union City police contacted Concord police and told them about an investigation that featured information relevant to the missing birds.
Authorities identified two suspects: Edward Casey of San Jose and Erik Stabile of Fremont. Casey was later arrested at his home, police said. Stabile has not been taken into custody, but there is an active warrant for his arrest.
"They are involved in multiple burglaries throughout the Bay Area," Concord police Detective Dylan Luciano said. "I think we are up to four or five cities right now that they’ve been involved in."
Police came to learn that Tofu, an umbrella cockatoo, had been sold in a transaction involving an unknowing seller and buyer in Los Angeles.
The seller, who is not a suspect in the case, cooperated with police and expressed their desire to get Tofu back home, police said. The seller ultimately drove to Los Angeles, refunded the buyer and brought Tofu back to the Bay Area.
Meanwhile, Plato's location remains unknown. Investigators believe he was likely sold several times.
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"We want to make sure that he's not forgotten about," Kemp said. "He's just as important. If seeing Tofu come home tells anyone anything, it's just how much it means for these birds to be with their people and vice versa."
Anyone with information about Plato's location or the case in general is asked to contact Luciano at 925-603-5831 or Dylan.Luciano@cityofconcord.org.
