Man arrested after 69 birds stolen from Lake Worth Beach home

LAKE WORTH BEACH — A 44-year-old man has been arrested in the case of 69 birds stolen from a Lake Worth Beach home.

Damian Ramallo of suburban Lake Worth Beach was charged Saturday with armed burglary, grand theft and petit theft with at least two prior convictions.

The homeowner told the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office that a family member told her the home security camera picked up someone at her home on the morning of June 28.

A man wearing jeans, a knife and a blue sweatshirt with the Spanish phrase “Sí, pero café con leche primero,” or “yes, but coffee with milk first,” could be seen in home security footage standing in an area outside the home with a collection of bird cages. Twenty minutes later, the man returned wearing a camouflage jacket and a backpack.

Among the birds stolen were 20 pigeons, 20 cockatoos, 15 canaries, 10 baby cockatoos and four parakeets. The homeowner told law enforcement that the birds were valued at more than $10,000 (the grand theft statute that Ramallo was charged under is for the theft of items valued at between $750 and $5,000).

Ramallo was booked at the Palm Beach County Jail early Saturday, but refused to attend a first appearance hearing Sunday. He was appointed a public defender, and a new hearing is scheduled for Monday morning.

The sheriff's department said late Sunday that not all the birds have been recovered, and that the investigation is ongoing.

Hannah Morse covers consumer issues for The Palm Beach Post. Drop a line at [email protected], call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter @mannahhorse.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Man arrested after 69 birds stolen from Lake Worth Beach home