‘No Swans Are Safe’: Polk County Sheriff Seeking Bird Thief
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted in connection with the theft of two black swans and their eggs earlier this year.
Authorities are searching for 30-year-old Alfredo Casanova of Homestead, who failed to appear in court after being arrested in February. Casanova was initially taken into custody along with Jordan Montoya, also from the Miami area, after detectives with the PCSO Agriculture Crimes Unit identified them as suspects in the theft of the swans from a community in South Lakeland.
“No swans are safe as long as Alfredo is a free bird. Thefts of swans and eggs are obviously his cygnet-ure crime,” said the department on their official Facebook page.
Thanks to the investigation, the stolen swans and eggs were safely recovered and returned to their rightful location. Both Casanova and Montoya were charged with burglary and grand theft at the time of their arrest.
However, Casanova has since become a fugitive after skipping a court appearance, prompting the issuance of a new arrest warrant.
The Sheriff’s Office notes that Casanova has known ties to Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and is urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward.
How to Report a Tip:
- Call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200 or email [email protected]
- To remain anonymous and potentially receive a reward, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of the following ways:
- Call: 1-888-400-TIPS (8477)
- Dial: **TIPS from a cell phone
- Visit: heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click “Submit A Tip”
- Download: the “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet
Authorities stress that Casanova is considered a risk to repeat his alleged crimes, and they are eager to bring him back into custody.
