Stolen Silkie chickens return to Melbourne primary school hours after heartless theft
Three beloved chickens who were taken from a primary school in Melbourne's south-east have been returned to their coop after appearing in a residential yard.
Students arrived at Cheltenham's Le Page Primary School this morning to find Ham, Cheese and Crackers the silkie chickens had been stolen from the school grounds.
"We believe they were taken some time between 6.30 last night and 6.30am this morning," teacher's aide Anna Ottersbach-McLean said.
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Cheese and Ham pictured in their coop at Le Page Primary School. Supplied/Gemma Baker
"Someone checked on them last night after school care, they were all locked up, everything was fine and then this morning, I was in from 8am onwards and had the first worried kids come up to me and say 'the chickens are not there'."
The thieves also took off with the flock's food and water dispensers, a bag of sawdust, nesting material and a shovel, leaving Baker with some hope the thieves had honest intentions.
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The tight-knit school community is devastated by the theft. Nine
"It seems like someone has come in with the intention to look after them because they've stolen the nesting box, material and things like that," Baker said.
"I really hope they just had the best intentions and thought they were doing the right thing. I could only hope that they misunderstood the situation."
Ham, Cheese and Crackers were located safe and well this evening, after a member of the public saw a 9News TV report regarding their disappearance.
Ham, Cheese and Crackers hatched at Le Page Primary School around 18 months ago. Supplied/Gemma Baker
"Within 30 minutes of the news someone rang the police and said the chickens appeared in their garden," teacher and chicken leader Gemma Baker told Nine.com.au.
"They're back at school, safe, with new security measures!"
Earlier today, the tight-knit school community pleaded for the safe return of the pet chickens.
"They were born and bred at the school so we've literally had them from an egg," Baker said.
"We have a lot of devastated children who are really upset as well as parents, staff who really enjoyed being around those chickens.
"They offer a kind of support to the children that you can't describe."
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