One bite from Rocky the parrot makes serial thief an ex-burglar
A PARROT brought a serial burglar to justice by biting the man’s hand, allowing his blood to be used as DNA evidence.
Vitalij Kiseliov broke into the home of Peter and Trudy Rowing in Gillingham, Kent, in the dead of night on June 15, stealing a laptop and phone.
He also took two oxygen tanks, which help Mrs Rowing with her breathing, as well as four cans of lager.
However, he also tried to take Rocky the African grey parrot out of its cage – the birds can sell for £500.
Rocky bit the burglar on the hand, and the man left a trail of his blood around the house. When police were called to the scene they found Kiseliov’s blood by the door.
Because of his serial crimes, his DNA was in the police database. He was arrested the next day.
Speaking this week, Mr Rowing, 72, said he and his wife have had Rocky for more than 20 years. He said the burglar got “more than he bargained for” when the bird bit him.
He said: “The police reckon Kiseliov threw Rocky out of the window because he bit him. They found blood by the door. They got him the next day because he was on their database.”
Rocky was soon reunited with its owners after their granddaughter put out an appeal on Facebook for anyone to look out for the parrot.
Recorder Sarah Elliott QC told Kiseliov: “Your burglary spree caused real misery to your victims and in many ways real fear. The victims were asleep in their own homes at night. Some were brave enough to go down and try to confront you or find you.
“Victims talk of their distress and fear and lasting feeling their homes have been invaded. Night time burglaries when people are in their beds asleep are terrifying for them and have lasting consequences.
“One lady had poor eyesight and needed a breathing machine. Among other things, you stole her oxygen.”
Kiseliov, who admitted six counts of burglary – five between the hours of 3.45am and 5.20am on June 15 and one on June 11 – was jailed for four years at Maidstone Crown Court last week, and will be deported at the end of his sentence.