Birdnapped bird's song leads to home

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Singing like a canary usually means ratting out someone to police, but a Springfield, Mo., police officer used a stolen bird's song to return it to its owner.

Police said Bandito the Sun Conure, which was birdnapped a few months ago, was returned to Pet Warehouse after officers heard a familiar chirp as they were investigating another crime at a residence where the South American bird was being kept, KY3-TV, Springfield reported.

"What stood out in that sergeant's mind was the sound of the parrot," Springfield police spokesman Matt Brown told the television station Friday. "When it was chirping, that's what he remembered."

Bandito is back at the pet shop -- and officials said the birdnapper, whose name was not reported, faces a felony theft charge.