It’s a case of swan-napping at night.
Becca Zakostelecky was in tears Friday afternoon, nearly 48 hours after two men entered Highland Park Mobile Home Village, a gated, 55-plus community on West Brannen Road in South Lakeland, and used nets to capture the community’s two black swans, Sterling and Luna.
They also grabbed at least four eggs the pair was tending in a nesting box.
“We’re offering a $1,000 reward for anybody that can lead to the prosecution of these two men –– no, not even men … criminals,” Zakostelecky said, choking up.
Security cameras caught the two men roaming the lakeside between 9:04 and 9:43 p.m. Wednesday. The cries of the mated pair are audible.
“I’ve never experienced a swan mourning like he did,” she said. “We thought he was going to pass away. He just cried and cried and cried, and so we contacted a breeder and bought a female, and instantly it was love at first sight, which is not very common with swans mourning.”
The pair laid eggs in the fall, but the hurricanes flooded their nest. They tried again in the last week, with four eggs spotted in the nest Sunday. Because the birds were in the nest, it made them and the eggs easy prey for the swan-nappers.
Zakostelecky said she wasn’t worried about the men eating the swans and the eggs. Investigators said they will more than likely sell them. Sterling cost the park about $3,500 and Luna $3,000. She said the eggs sell for about $1,500 each.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Director of Communications Scott Wilder confirmed a detective with their agricultural unit is hot on the trail of the fowl felons.
“We have some leads and we’re tracking those down and we hope to find out who’s responsible,” Wilder said.
Photos courtesy of Becca Zakostelecky
CRIME: GRAND THEFT
CRIME SCENE: HIGHLAND VILLAGE MHP OF LAKELAND
POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CASE #: 25-6167
During the evening of Wednesday, February 12th, two black swans and four of their eggs were stolen from the Highland Village Mobile Home Park of Lakeland, at 375 Brannen Road.
The theft occurred between 9:04 pm and 9:43 pm.
Two suspects were visible on security video during that time.
If you have any information about this crime, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Crimes Unit at 863-534-7205.
If you wish to remain anonymous AND be eligible for a reward, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
• CALL 1-888-400 TIPS (8477) Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida
• DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
• VISIT http://heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
• DOWNLOAD the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet