HIALEAH, Fla. – Police have detained three men suspected of trying to steal pigeons from the backyard of a Hialeah home.

Hialeah police spokesman Carl Zogby said the men arrived at the home on West 39th Place in a black BMW on Tuesday morning.

A neighbor who works for the Hialeah Police Department saw the men and called 911.

Until 2012, it was illegal for residents to breed pigeons, but city code now allows for it.

Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden said pigeon racing is a popular sport in Hialeah, which could be a motive for the attempted bird-snatching.

Detectives are questioning the men, but no arrests have been made.

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