Stolen Wimbledon pigeon-patrol hawk returned to owners

LONDON -- The owner of a hawk used to patrol skies and deter pigeons from the Wimbledon tennis tournament says the bird has been returned after thieves stole it from a car.

Rufus, a Harris hawk, was stolen with its cage last week from a car parked on a private driveway in the southwestern suburb of Wimbledon.

Owner Imogen Davis said Monday that the bird was handed in to an animal hospital in southwest London Sunday evening. Police confirmed the bird had been returned but gave no details on who may have taken it. Police said the bird has a sore leg and will rest for a few days before returning to the tennis tournament.

Hawks have been used to clear the skies during the Wimbledon tournament for about 12 years.