Moment Thief Swipes Tortoise From Pet Shop, Stuffs It Into Coat
CCTV footage captures the brazen theft of a Hermann's tortoise from Preston Exotic Pets, raising concerns for the animal's welfare.
A man has been captured on CCTV stuffing a tortoise into his coat pocket during a theft at Preston Exotic Pets in Lancashire. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on October 6.
The footage shows the man, wearing a black coat, grey joggers, and flip-flops, approaching an enclosure containing Hermann's tortoises. He picks up one of the reptiles, turns it to face him, and then puts it down. Moments later, he picks up the tortoise again and conceals it within his coat.
Shop owner Luke Jarvis, 43, stated that the man had also stolen a Horsefield tortoise earlier the same day. Jarvis expressed concern for the reptiles' well-being, emphasizing their need for specialized heating and ultraviolet UVB lighting to survive. "If they don't have access to this, they try and enter a hibernation state due to the current weather," Jarvis explained. "But the conditions aren't correct at the moment, so they will not enter this stage, and in fact they will just slowly become dehydrated and starve to death."
He added that without adequate heat, the tortoises would be unable to digest their food properly. "It is heartbreaking to know they have been taken, but I'm most concerned about their wellbeing," he said.
Preston Exotic Pets shared an appeal on social media, urging the man to return the tortoises, noting that they require specialized equipment to survive. The shop owner stated that the animals had not been returned and the incident has been reported to Lancashire Police.
Jarvis mentioned that since opening the shop in March, this was the third theft he had encountered. The two previous incidents involved stolen stock, such as bird food and statues, but this was the first time live animals had been taken.
Lancashire Police confirmed they received a report of the theft on October 6. "Enquiries into the report and to locate the tortoises are ongoing, and we are asking for anyone with information that could assist those enquiries to get in touch on 101 quoting log 0591 of 8 October," a police spokesperson stated.