Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im reposting this for Hoffer's Tropic Life Pets in Milwaukee. Please contact them if you have any information.

REPOST
Sometime Sunday night/ Monday morning someone broke into the pond area at Hoffer's tropic life pets in Milwaukee and stole 3 sulcatta tortoises. While usually not distinguishable, the largest one taken was Virgil. He is a Large male around 120-140 pounds, at least 28-30 inches or so across the shell, and has no pyramiding. He has some points to his scutes but no pyramiding, a perfect specimen. If anyone sees some new tortoise show up somewhere out of the blue, please let me know or call Hoffer's at 414-353-6553. Virgil actually belonged to Joe the store's manager, and Joe would greatly appreciate him back. He was only at the store since Joe had Heart surgery, and I am pretty sure Virgil out weighs Joe. Thanks fopr any info everyone.

Please feel free to repost this anywhere you think it might be helpful.

-----
Anja Buffalo
Crotalus & Company
Venom-Center
Wisconsin Reptiles Site
Free PC Inspection

I'm guessing the they were stolen by herpers and not tortoise people... if you know what I mean.

This is my worse fear.

I'm hoping the the tortoise community is tight enough that the idiots will be caught.
-----
Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

WITI (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 02 July 07 Tortoises Stolen From Milwaukee Pet Store
Milwaukee: The owner of a Milwaukee pet store is trying to figure out who stole two tortoises. It happened Sunday night.
Mike Hoffer says someone broke the lock on the stores gate and took the reptiles. One weighs more than 100 pounds the other weighs just 15 pounds.
He says tortoises require a lot more work than people realize and that's why they often end up at his store. He says he's not looking to send anyone to jail he just wants Virgil and Midget home where they belong.
http://www.myfoxmilwaukee.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=3662104&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

JOURNAL SENTINEL (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 03 July 07 Police hunt for two stolen tortoises - One returned to pet store, though owner not sure of identity (Diana Sroka)
In this search, police know they are not looking for runaways.
A 5-year-old and a 17-year-old tortoise were stolen from Hoffer's Tropic Life Pets, 7323 N. 76th St., on Sunday night.
The younger one, Midget, weighs about 10 pounds; the older tortoise, Virgil, is near 100 pounds.
Thieves used a bolt cutter to break off a lock from the outdoor fence that protects the 13-member fleet of tortoises, said Mike Hoffer, owner of the store.
"Either they're trying to resell them or maybe they had been eyeing them up for weeks," Hoffer said. Midget would likely sell for $400 to $500 and Virgil would earn about $2,500, he said.
Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control recovered a tortoise from S. 109th St. and W. Lincoln Ave. that fit Midget's description. Hoffer brought the tortoise back to the store Tuesday afternoon but said he is not sure it is Midget.
Hoffer is most concerned about their well-being.
"My main concern is they don't get mistreated," he said. They need space to walk and to be fed fresh vegetables, he said.
The store has already received some phone calls from people concerned about the tortoises. One caller even said she will be posting information about the missing tortoises on a tortoise Web site.
"We'd like them back, because they are part of our family," he said.
The two tortoises are of the species Sulcata, the second-largest tortoise species on earth.
Their average lifespan is 150 years, they don't need to be walked and they attract few bugs into the house.
"Reptiles are for lazy people who want a pet," joked Shane Ager, an employee of the store who owns 10 tortoises. He said each of his kids have a tortoise. Unlike dogs, these pets will likely last a lifetime and beyond.
"They're real good companions," Ager said.
Police hunt for two stolen tortoises