A few ruffled feathers in Dunedin - where Police say three teens attempted to steal a pigeon

A neighbour at a Waldronville property reported youths climbing the fence to its coop about 2am on Saturday morning.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond says the pigeon was initially returned, then taken again.

He says officers found the intoxicated group pretending to be asleep in a neighbour's garage, with one holding the pigeon tucked under a blanket.

The bird was unharmed, and reparation will be sought for damage to the coop.