THE Harry Potter craze could be why two barn owls have been stolen from their aviary in Wheatley.

Seven-month-old barn owls Romeo and Juliet have been missing from their home in London Road, since Thursday, October 21.

Devastated owners Caroline and Keith Price, both 50, have been hunting high and low for the birds for the past three weeks – even offering a £500 reward for their return.

Last night, Mrs Price issued a desperate appeal to thieves to return them.

She even said she was not ruling out the possibility Harry Potter fans could have taken the birds as pets to emulate the boy wizard.

The hit books and films feature a snowy owl called Hedwig, Potter’s friend and sidekick, used to deliver mail.

Mrs Price, a self-employed mother-of-three, said: “I am not ruling it out. My son said white owls are in demand because of Harry Potter.

“We are just devastated, it’s horrendous. They are the first thing we think about when we wake up and the last thing we think about when we go to sleep.

“We are still looking every night, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack and if someone has got them inside, going around calling them is not productive.

“We would offer a £5,000 reward if we could. They are priceless. You can’t replace something that is living.”

Mrs Price said since their cats used to bring in mice or shrews for the owls but had stopped since their disappearance.

She said: “I hope we find them. They are the most beautiful creatures. We chose their names because we wanted to honour what they were.

“We both love Shakespeare so we named them Romeo and Juliet. They are gorgeous, totally different personalities.

“She is adventurous and inquisitive and they would sit side-by-side.

“If she flew from one branch to another, then Romeo would follow her.”

Mrs Price’s father Frank kept a tawny owl about 20 years ago, which flew off in a gale, but was found following an appeal on BBC Radio Oxford.

Romeo and Juliet have their flight wings so are capable for flying, but have not been ringed or marked.

Pc Andy Smith said: “The theft of the birds has been reported to St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital and the RSPA, who know to contact us if they get any reports of sightings or have birds of this type brought into them.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.