WATCH: Masked burglars steal birds worth £6,000 in raid caught on CCTV

Around 20 Goldfinches, worth between £200 and £300 each, were stolen in a shocking evening raid last night in Buckland, Portsmouth.

A shocked resident, who did not want to be named, was at home with her three young children when she heard a noise in the garden.

The 29-year-old woman was putting out rubbish when she disturbed the three men, who fled, at around 6.30pm.

Footage captured on the family's CCTV system shows the men climbing over the back of the shed to get into the garden.

They then struggle with the aviary door for two minutes before getting in and taking the goldfinches from cages inside.

The woman said: 'It was really terrifying, they all had balaclavas on.

'They've gone through people's gardens to get to our garden,.

'We've caught them on CCTV.

'I was going to throw the rubbish out, that's when I heard them.

'It was very scary, it was pitch black.'

All of the birds are registered to the woman's family with specialist codes on the birds' legs.

She added that other raids on aviaries have been reported across the south in recent times.

The resident added: 'I know they're going to come back because we've got goldfinches.

'It was really scary, I'm looking at CCTV 24/7 now.

'I'm terrified thinking when another head is going to go past the window.'

The family have around 200 canaries, which were untouched, and about 50 to 60 goldfinches.

Hampshire police are investigating the burglary. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information call police on 101 quoting 44160416309.