Thief in a flap after stealing Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary volunteer Shayne Hirsh’s car with rainbow lorikeets inside

It all happened in flash and involved six prized rainbow lorikeets, a car theft and an anonymous phone call – find out how this crazy crime on the Gold Coast went down.

A wildlife carer got the shock of her life when her car carrying six rehabilitated rainbow lorikeets was stolen from outside her home.

In a bizarre twist, the thief called the carer in a flap to let her know the birds had been dropped off safe and sound.

Shayne Hirsh had her car stolen which was full of rescued rainbow lorikeets. The birds were returned but car is still missing. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital volunteer Shayne Hirsh was about to take the birds to a flight aviary for their final stage of recovery after Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome.

She had stopped at her Tallai home about 3pm Monday to grab a few things for the trip and left the car doors open to maintain air flow for the birds.

“It was really opportunistic and really bad luck,” Ms Hirsh said. “I literally left my car for one minute to get something else.

Some of the rainbow lorikeets Shayne Hirsh has cared for recently. Not the same ones that were stolen. Picture: Supplied

“I just heard slamming doors and I ran up the stairs and my car was moving.”

The thief roared up her street in the stolen SsangYong Korando not realising the road ended as a cul-de-sac.

Ms Hirsh bravely stood in the middle of the road screaming to gain their attention.

The stolen car swerved, narrowly missing her, and continued at high-speed down the street.

While reporting the stolen car to police, the carer said she received a call on a private number from the thief telling her the birds had been dropped off at a location in Helensvale.

Ms Hirsh said they found her number on paperwork inside the car.

Some of the rainbow lorikeets Shayne Hirsh has cared for recently. Not the same ones that were stolen. Picture: Supplied

Coomera police picked up the birds, which are now safe, but Ms Hirsh’s car is still missing.

“I was super relieved that I got the birds back. It’s really all about the birds,” she said.

“The thief had some kind of conscience.”

She thanked police for their “amazing” efforts.

A police spokeswoman said the incident was reported to police and investigations were continuing.

Anyone with information about the stolen SsangYong Korando with registration 785BD7 should phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Originally published as Thief in a flap after stealing Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary volunteer Shayne Hirsh’s car with rainbow lorikeets inside