The birds at Torquay’s coastal zoo have been unmasked as feathery felons, regularly making off with tools and personal items belonging to their keepers.

Keeper Amy Beckerleg: “They are provided with nesting material in the form of sticks provided by volunteers - but they pinch the paper sacks in which we carry it onto the beach, too!”

The penguins have taken tools including brushes and small plastic buckets. Pens, pencils and small clipboards used to make a note of how much fish the birds eat have all disappeared, only to turn up later in penguin burrows.

Amy: “We had a small torch that we used for checking inside the burrows – they took that, so we had to get a bigger one that they couldn’t carry. You only have to turn your back for a moment!”

The penguin pickpockets have also taken personal belongings that keepers have put down on the beach, like sunglasses. They have even tried to make off with keeper walkie-talkies.

Torquay’s coastal zoo is home to 80 African penguins. They live on their own private beach and nest in burrows. Living Coasts senior head keeper Tony Durkin said: “We know penguins are attracted to shiny things - we hang up old CDs on the beach as environmental enrichment, they catch the sunlight and the penguins chase the reflections. But they will take anything they can get their beaks on!”

It seems as though all things bright and beautiful appeal to all creatures great and small – especially penguins…