Missing birds

[finchbird2015]

Wow very sorry to hear about your lost. Have u thought about installing security cams? You can get Some basic systems fairy cheap these days. Yep I lock my aviays if anything it would slow them down. You gotta think if they got away with it once they may try In the future.

[BlackCobra]

About putting locks on aviaries, I Do not do that, I learn t this about 30 odd years ago when My mate had lots birds stolen, they just cut through the wire, to me I would prefer
them to get through the door & not the wire, also if they had cut your wire all the bird would have been gone the next day, not every person can get hold of bolt cutters so cutting the wire is much easier, especially if there kids.
I think for sure its theft, my friend just lost all his canaries, except 4 hens, they did not touch any of his finch aviaries, just the canaries, also if he had locked aviaries & they cut the wire he would have to repair the aviary & would have lost all his birds.
I have 2 German Shepherds in my backyard.
I remember years ago finding a torch at the bottom of my fence, my dogs must have put the person over the fence, another time I heard my dog growling & I saw a head over my back fence, next thing my dog ran & jumped at the back fence too scare them off, the next day I heard that house over the back was robbed & that means they were also checking out my backyard.
Another friend of mine has been hit 3 times now, he has lost over $35k worth of birds.

[Finchy]

That's awful MF! It's surprising that anyone would bother with common finches.

Personally I would make a police report for sure. Let them know the name and phone number of the person who paid a visit. Also don't ever let anyone come by without first communicating with them by phone, and always record those names and numbers. Never communicate only by email.

Like you, I don't keep any valuable birds, but a thief might not twig to that until it's too late. I keep the names and numbers of every person I've ever had over here (and of a couple of bird folk that strike me as dodgy/unstable!) just in case. Also, between me and my immediate neighbours on all sides we have 11 dogs(!!), and the aviary is visible to three sets of neighbours, which all helps.

[shnapper20]

I have 2 labs if you didn't know dogs you would be wary. I also have cheap birds. Never felt the need to fit locks. However this season I have a lock on my holding aviary as last year I misplaced a few pair. Not knowing if I hadn't kept my records correctly or if I had been ripped is annoying . At least I will know one way or the other and then proceed to the next step of cameras,trip wires, booby traps and landmines if need be.