A thief in Fayetteville stole a piece of a business owner's heart. Anna Anderson said it's not about money, it's about a missing friend.

The sign outside of her home business says it all: “Everbirdy Welcome.”

"Birds can have such personalities, you know,” Anna said. “People who never had them just don't know."

But Anna knows she's missing one of her prized parrots.

"They came through here and came through the house and came in here," she explained.

A robber made off with her cash register and a valuable African gray parrot.

CJ wasn't for sale. He was her pet.

But CJ wasn't like any other bird at the store. He was a favorite of her late husband's.

As a matter of fact, they spent so much time together that CJ could mimic him.

She said losing CJ is like losing a part of her husband all over again.

"When he died, the bird for ten months wouldn't talk,” Ann explained. “He wouldn't say a word and then the first thing of him talking was saying my name and it was jut like my husband was in back of me saying 'Anna.' It just gives you chills."

Now Anna is left to wonder where her feathered friend has gone and if he's being taken care of.

Ultimately, she hopes CJ will be found and returned to her nest.
"It's frustrating,” she added. “It's not an easy thing."

Anna said the parrot says her name and the name "Heidi" every day.
Heidi is her German shepherd.

If you have any information about Anna's lost bird, she'd like you to call her at

(910) 485-7634 or call the police.