PET shop owners are pleading for the safe return of their family's monkey, snatched in a raid.

Cabbage, a 16-year-old black capped squirrel monkey has lived at Adlington Pet Supplies, off Market Street, for the last 11 years.

The cheeky little animal became a firm favourite with customers as he scurried around the shop.

"Children even used to bring him Christmas presents," said owner Ann Brown.

But in a break-in at the weekend thieves forced open a toilet window, disabled the alarm system and put plastic bags over the CCTV cameras.

Their main target was the shop's parrots worth thousands of pounds, including an 11-year-old blue and gold Macaw named Rocky.

Also stolen were two African grey parrots -- one an eight-year-old bird which used to belong to a policeman -- two Hanhs Macaws and a blue fronted Amazon.

The thieves even took cages to carry the birds in, their certificates and books about how to care for them.

But they took Cabbage, named because of his green-coloured fur, and Mrs Brown believes the animal will have been terrified.

The break-in was discovered on Saturday morning by Mrs Brown's son, Andrew, who manages the shop.

"We are all absolutely devastated about Cabbage," said Mrs Brown. "He is just like a little person and comes to us for a love and a cuddle.

"He is like a child, having a nightly biscuit before he goes to bed. Customers have been coming in crying." Mrs Brown also fears for Cabbage's health. Only four years ago he had a major operation and now needs a special diet and medicines. "He will be really fretting by now," said Mrs Brown.

Anyone with any information about the theft can contact Chorley CID on 01257 269021 or the Parrot Society on 07802 404929.

PET shop owners are appealing for the safe return of their family's monkey, snatched in a raid.

Cabbage, a 16-year-old black capped squirrel monkey has lived at Adlington Pet Supplies, off Market Street, for the last 11 years.

The cheeky little animal became a firm favourite with customers as he scurried around the shop.

"Children even used to bring him Christmas presents," said owner Ann Brown.

But in a break-in at the weekend thieves forced open a toilet window, disabled the alarm system and put bags over the CCTV cameras.

Their main target was the shop's parrots worth thousands of pounds, including an 11-year-old blue and gold macaw named Rocky.

Also stolen were two African grey parrots -- one an eight-year-old bird which used to belong to a policeman -- two Hanhs macaws and a blue fronted Amazon.

The thieves even took cages to carry the birds in and their certificates and books on how to care for them.

They took Cabbage, named because of his green-coloured fur, and Mrs Brown believes the animal will have been terrified.

The break-in was discovered on Saturday morning by Mrs Brown's son, Andrew, who manages the shop.

"We are all absolutely devastated about Cabbage," said Mrs Brown.

Anyone with any information about the theft can contact Chorley CID on 01257 269021 or the Parrot Society on 07802 404929.

PET shop owners are pleading for the safe return of their family's monkey, snatched in a raid.

Cabbage, a 16-year-old black capped squirrel monkey has lived at Adlington Pet Supplies, off Market Street, for the last 11 years.

The cheeky little animal became a firm favourite with customers as he scurried around the shop.

"Children even used to bring him Christmas presents," said owner Ann Brown.

But in a break-in at the weekend thieves forced open a toilet window, disabled the alarm system and put bags over the CCTV cameras.

Their main target was the shop's parrots worth thousands of pounds, including an 11-year-old blue and gold macaw named Rocky.

Also stolen were two African grey parrots -- one an eight-year-old bird which used to belong to a policeman -- two Hanhs macaws and a blue fronted Amazon.

The thieves even took cages to carry the birds in, their certificates and books about how to care for them.

They took Cabbage, named because of his green-coloured fur, and Mrs Brown believes the animal will have been terrified.

The break-in was discovered on Saturday morning by Mrs Brown's son, Andrew, who manages the shop.

"We are all absolutely devastated about Cabbage," said Mrs Brown.

Anyone with any information about the theft can contact Chorley CID on 01257 269021 or the Parrot Society on 07802 404929.