Police rushed to reports of ‘screaming woman’ to find a loud parrot

When Steve Wood opened his door to officers and three police cars, he felt a wave of panic.

What had happened? Why were so many police at his door?

Thankfully, it all turned out to be a rather funny misunderstanding.

Essex Police were called to Steve’s home on Canvey Island after a report was made on Tuesday by a ‘concerned neighbour’ saying they could hear a woman ‘shouting for help’.

Officers rushed to the scene to carry out a welfare check, but once Steve, 54, realised what they had been told he quickly clarified the situation.

He actually keeps 22 parrots at his home and assured the officers the sounds were coming from his three-year-old yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Freddie.

Steve posted a video on social media showing the ‘raid’ on his home, where two officers are seen laughing along with him.

A retired police officer himself, he said in the footage: ‘I might be in a bit of trouble cause a concerned neighbour has been passing by telling me that there is screaming coming from my house – a woman screaming for help.

‘This is brilliant. This has made my year, thank you very much.’

An Essex Police spokesperson thanked Steve for his understanding.

‘We were contacted shortly before 1.50pm on Tuesday, July 4 by a member of the public reporting the sound of a female’s screams in the area of Larup Avenue, Canvey,’ they said.

‘Officers attended to conduct a welfare check, but upon arrival discovered the noise was in fact caused by a number of parrots inside a property.

‘Officers engaged with a member of the public at the property and we thank him for his understanding and patience.’

Aside from getting their owners into trouble, parrots can sometimes be helpful too. This loud macaw from Melbourne in Australia scared off a gang of burglars with its terrifying shrieks.

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