Enigmatic Figure in Blanket at Core of Shop’s Pheasant Puzzle

The owner of a shop has expressed his “mystification” following the discovery of dead birds displayed on his premises during daylight hours. Robert Hallam has operated Jack Hallam and Sons, a gun shop located in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, for 12 years, having inherited the business from his father. On Sunday afternoon, after being informed about the birds, he reviewed CCTV footage which showed an individual, appearing to be elderly and largely concealed by a pale blue blanket, placing the pheasants on the front of his shop. Mr Hallam stated: “It’s a small village, and gossip usually moves fairly quickly, but no-one has shed any light on this.” Jack Hallam and Sons, founded in 1935, historically provided equipment for numerous outdoor activities, but has recently specialized in air rifles and shotguns. Mr Hallam recounted that he was informed about the birds hanging on the facade of his establishment while he was absent on Sunday. Upon reviewing the security footage later that evening, he expressed bewilderment at the sight. He described: “There was this strange ‘under cover’ member of the public with a walking stick holding these pheasants and putting them either side of my window.” He added: “They were obviously trying to hide from the cameras, and there is no obvious motive, whether it is a protest or a practical joke.” “It’s just one of the bizarrest things I have ever seen,” he concluded. An additional unusual aspect is that the shop is situated on the bustling Buxton Road, yet the birds were left in an openly visible location. Mr Hallam commented: “It was at about 10 past one on Sunday afternoon, so I thought someone might have seen someone getting dressed in a blanket and walking the streets, but, so far, amazingly, no-one seems to have noticed.” Considering it “not a big thing,” Mr Hallam stated he would refrain from reporting the incident to the authorities.