Jacko is back

JACKO the cockatoo is safely back at Drysdale Home Timber and Hardware after being stolen at the weekend.

Police have been told an unknown offender climbed over the front fence of the store in Murradoc Road just before 9pm on Saturday.

It is believed the thief removed the bird from the cage and fled the scene.

Drysdale Home Timber and Hardware issued an urgent plea on Sunday morning for public assistance in finding Jacko, and even offered a $1,000 reward earlier this afternoon.

The yellow-crested cockatoo aged in his 20s was left in a box at the store by an unknown person and discovered at 2.14pm, and an unnamed member of staff at Drysdale Home Timber and Hardware posted an emotional video featuring Jacko on Facebook almost immediately.

“Hi everyone, we have the best news in the world – our little man is finally home!” she said.

“And thank you to everyone for their community support and sharing that our little man was lost, but he’s home and he’s safe and we’re going to get him checked out by the vet and it’s just the most fabulous news ever.

“Thank you so much!”

The store posted that they did not believe the anonymous person who returned Jacko was the perpetrator of the crime.

Investigators have released an image of a man that may be able to assist with their enquiries.

Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 18000 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at the Crime Stoppers Victoria website.