Tom Van Gaver, a champion pigeon racer, discovered thieves had broken into his loft and stolen five valuable birds, including a renowned breeder named Finn. The birds were valued at approximately 750,000 euros, but Van Gaver, who didn’t plan to sell, considered them priceless. The theft reflects a growing trend in Belgium's pigeon racing community, where organized crime has intensified, according to the Royal Belgian Pigeon Federation. In response, Van Gaver has upgraded security measures around his home, transforming it into a more fortified environment to prevent future incidences.
In the pigeon racing scene, theft has been a persistent problem, but it has significantly escalated over the last year, with estimates of up to 15 thefts occurring.
Van Gaver's experience highlights the vulnerability of pigeon racers to organized crime, with thieves willing to go to great lengths, including cutting down hedges for access.
The value of these racing pigeons isn't solely monetary; they are considered priceless to their owners, embodied in their emotional ties and long-standing breeding records.
The security measures that Van Gaver had in place were inadequate to prevent such determined and cunning criminal activity, forcing him to reevaluate his entire security infrastructure.
Collection
[
|
...
]