Police were left red-faced after smashing down a front door responding to reports of a elderly woman in distress – only to find a parrot calling for help. A team of officers rushed to the address before booting their way in at 7.30pm.
But confused cops found the property empty with no sign of anybody requiring help and only a parrot sitting in a cage in the corner of the living room. The homeowner’s son then returned home shortly after and revealed it was not his mum calling out but her chatty feathered friend squawking: “Help!”
West Midlands Force Response shared details of the hilarious mishap on Twitter along with a picture of an officer posed with the cheeky green bird. They wrote: “C Team Sutton respond to a report of an elderly female shouting for help inside her address.
“Entry forced and searched however no sign of the female. Son arrives and informs PC Jukes that the parrot in the living room talks and was the one shouting Help!”
The team added: “Sutton are ready for another day of answering emergency calls! Hopefully we don’t have any more calls relating to naughty parrots! #PollySending PoliceCrackers #ParrotGate.”
One web user Piers Doughty-Brown commented “Charge him with wasting police time and put him before the Beak?”
Kaz said: “Brilliant but it just proves that you are always there to respond to someone in need even though it was a parrot this time.”
PCMatty added: “Reminds me of one of the Carry On films!” while Andrew wrote: “Who’s a clever boy then?”
DJ Markymarc was more concerned and asked: “Where did the parrot learn to cry “help” in a ladies voice? Is there any more checking to be done here?
Another called Alex put: “But why has the parrot learned that phrase?”
Web user Pug said “Arrest that parrot!!” while another wrote: “Thank goodness Polly was safe and well… crackers!”