Please be careful. The Common British Crow is very similar in appearance to the European Crow which due to climate changes and deforestation has seen an increase of attacks on humans.
Evening Post Hertfordshire edition 27th July 2010. Mrs Betty Tonsurton was the victim of an attack by a large black bird in her garden in Stevenage, Herts.
Betty had been hanging out her washing, in particular her husband's underwear when the bird swooped down onto her head where it gripped on tightly, leaving Betty to scream for help to her husband Trevor indoors.
Trevor tried in vain to chase off the bird attached to his wife's head using a rolled up Bettaware catalogue and resorted to distracting the bird by throwing his toupee in the air, at which the bird ceased it's atack on Betty and the couple fled indoors.
Although terribly shaken there was no injury to Betty's scalp and medics called to the scene believe she was saved from serious harm by the rollers she was wearing.
Two red sequin thongs were missing after the savage assault.
Police advised local people to stay indoors and local Ornithologist Dr Alan Sokdror was called in to identify the bird which could stiill be seen flying in the area from time to time. Dr Sokdror estsblished the bird as being the Notorious European Crow and believe's the crow was attracted to the sequins on Trevor's underwear which Betty was hanging out.
The Crow was not captured and eventually flew away after a five hour stsnd off with Police.
A Police spokesman for Hertfordshire Contabulary issued a warning to Stevenage residents to exercise caution with sequin garments being placed on washing lines. "We believe it is in the public's interest to keep these garments indoors where possible or to use the services of a launderette".
30th June 2010 Evening Post Hertfordshire Edition-A man has been arrested in connection with the theft of two red sequin thongs from a back garden in Stevenage earlier this week. Dr Alan Sokdror the man believed to be accused of this crime was unavailable for comment.