Pigeon racing in Belgium faces a surge in thefts, with drones and lasers targeting prized birds worth hundreds of thousands.
These pigeons aren’t just pets anymore; they’re worth a ton of money. The most expensive one sold for about 1.65 million euros! So, it’s no surprise that thieves are getting bolder.
Pascal Bodengien from the Belgian Pigeon Racing Federation says it’s been a tough winter. Every week, there’s news of another theft. Just last week, someone made off with pigeons worth around 100,000 euros. And the police? They haven’t caught anyone yet.
The emotional toll is huge. Breeders spend years caring for these birds, and losing them feels like losing a part of their lives. Frans Bungeneers, a champion breeder, knows this pain all too well. He lost nearly all his top pigeons in a break-in back in 2016.
He was devastated, saying it felt like his life’s work was destroyed. Even though the thieves were caught, he never got his money back. It’s heartbreaking, especially now with so many thefts happening.
Once a pigeon is stolen, its racing days are over. Without proper papers, it can’t compete. Thieves can’t sell them at auctions either, so they likely end up in Eastern Europe.
Bungeneers, who used to be a cop, is frustrated with how these cases are handled. He feels like the police don’t take pigeon theft seriously enough.
Now, the federation is urging members to be extra cautious. They’re telling people to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it.
But for breeders like Bungeneers, it’s a sad sign of the times. Instead of enjoying their birds, they’re constantly looking over their shoulders. They’ve got to invest in cameras and alarms just to keep their hobby safe. It’s a lot of stress, and many are thinking about quitting.
