2 years for rare bird theft in Naperville

A Berwyn man charged in a spree of exotic bird thefts that struck four counties last summer was sentenced to two years in prison Monday for stealing Joey, a rare cockatoo, from a Naperville pet store.

Erik Zalkus, 31, pleaded guilty to felony retail theft for swiping the rose-breasted cockatoo from Naperville Petland, 720 S. Route 59, in August. He had faced up to five years in prison.

Prosecutors said security footage from the pet store showed Zalkus placing the bird — priced at more than $3,000 — on his shoulder and walking off camera. A woman accompanying him then stuffed the bird into her purse, Assistant DuPage County State's Attorney Kirsten King said.

Authorities charged Zalkus and three co-defendants in early September after they executed a search warrant at his home and found the cockatoo, along with several other stolen animals.

On Monday, Naperville Petland owner Adam Stachowiak said Joey was returned unharmed within hours of its disappearance, and adopted about a week later by a family who read news accounts of the theft.

“I'm happy we were able to catch them, and they paid for what they did,” he said of the thieves. “It's unfortunate people feel the need to take things in order to profit. It only hurts us small-business owners.”

Authorities said the foursome had operated as a theft ring targeting rare birds at pet stores in Batavia, Bolingbrook, Naperville, and Cook County. In at least three cases, workers said part of the group distracted them while the others took the birds.

“We were actually really busy that night,” Stachowiak said. “They scoped out the store and knew exactly what they were looking for.”

Police caught up with the group after Naperville Petland emailed area pet stores describing two men and two women believed to have taken the cockatoo. The suspects were nabbed at a short time later after workers spotted them at Wheaton Petland and called police.

Stachowiak said bird thefts are somewhat uncommon, but the retail value and rarity of some breeds make them prime targets.

“They're probably the easiest” to steal, he said. “We keep our birds out so they're social and can be handled by customers. Unfortunately that opens them up to being stolen. But locking them up makes them anti-social, so it's a Catch-22.”

Zalkus was sentenced according to a plea agreement with DuPage prosecutors. He told Judge Blanche Hill Fawell he believes he's an alcoholic or drug addict, but otherwise made no statements in court.

King said Zalkus had similar theft cases in Cook, Kane and Will counties. He was given credit for 238 days already served in jail.

Also charged in connection with the theft ring were Zalkus' wife, Viviana Rossi-Zalkus, and Downers Grove residents Rebecca Cozzi and Alexander Kochno. They each have been convicted and sentenced to probation or jail, court records show.