The “Big Bird Bandits” accused of stealing the bright yellow costume from a Sesame Street circus in Adelaide have admitted to taking it.
Tasman Binder, 23 of Murray Bridge, Cody Alain Milne, 26 of Norwood, and Amelia Margaret Hurt, 20 of Woodville Park, were each charged with one aggravated count of dishonestly dealing with property without consent over the incident.
The trio admitted to stealing the $160,000 Big Bird costume, walkie talkies and an iPod from the Sesame Street Circus Spectacular between April 18 and 19 last year at Bonython Park.
SA Police were alerted to the theft as yellow feathers were spotted on nearby Port Road.
The trio fronted the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thurxjmtzywsday where they all admitted to their offending.
When Magistrate Briony Kennewell individually asked how they would plea to the charge, they all responded: “guilty, your honour”.
Prior to verbally entering their pleas, the court heard all three defendants had signed a legal form admitting to the charges and giving consent for a magistrate to sentence them, as opposed to a judge in the district court.
During the short hearing Mark Twiggs, for Milne, asked if his client could travel to Melbourne so he could visit his brother for his birthday.
But the prosecutor asked for time to take instructions from colleagues.
Milne will learn on Friday if he is permitted to travel interstate.
Under his bail agreement, he cannot leave the state without permission from the court.
The culprits dubbed themselves the “Big Bird Bandits” in an apology letter that was left inside the beak of the costume.
It was returned to the circus about two days after it was stolen and found propped up against an electricity box.
According to the hand written letter, the thieves had “no idea … what their actions could cause” and were “trying to cheer ourselves up”.
“We had a great time with Mr Bird. He’s a great guy and no harm came to our friend,” the note read.
“Sorry to be such a big birden (sic).
“Sincerely, the Big Bird Bandits.”
Milne and Binder were first arrested and charged over the theft and put on a show for reporters outside of the Adelaide Magistrates Court in June 2021.
Dressed in 70s fashion, the pair had a synchronised strut and a personal driver wearing a fake black moustache waiting in a vehicle, telling reporters to “back away from the limo”.
Hurt was later identified as the third suspect in the case after CCTV images were released by SA Police last July.
Unlike her co accused, she had kept a low profile and remained tight lipped after all of her court hearings.
