Police swooped on a home following reports of a ‘screaming woman’ - only to end up walking away in tears of laughter. Officers in three police cars flew to Steve Wood’s property before finding the source of the 'screams' reported by a neighbour.
Essex Police said they had been alerted to a possible incident at 1.50pm on Tuesday involving a woman shouting for help by a “concerned neighbour”. And when stunned Steve, 54, opened his door to them, he admitted feeling a wave of panic.
But the retired policeman, assured the officers that the noises were actually coming from his boisterous three-year-old feathered friend - a yellow-naped Amazon parrot called Freddie. Steve has a collection of 22 birds.
Steve thanked the police for “making” his year. He said: “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.”
Two officers who had attended Steve's home could be seen laughing along with him as he chuckled at their humorous call out. An Essex Police spokesperson thanked Steve for his understanding following their ‘welfare check’ at his premises.
They said: “We were contacted shortly before 1.50pm on Tuesday 4 July by a member of the public reporting the sound of a female’s screams in the area of Larup Avenue, Canvey.
“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.”
