THE GAZETTE (Blackpool, UK) 15 February 06 Shell shocked - Thieves have stolen expensive tortoises from a Fylde pet centre for the second time in a month.
Four reptiles – worth £300 each – were taken by a trio of thieves from World of Water, on Preston New Road, Westby, on Friday.
It comes barely four weeks since the store – and its tortoises – were targeted and police believe it is the work of the same gang.
At around 4.45pm on Friday, three people, two men and a woman, walked into the shop and while one of them kept watch, the others forced open a locked tank and stole three female and one male tortoises.
They then slipped out of the store before staff realised what had happened.
Manager Stuart Hall said: "We presume these people have come back again because they successfully sold the two they took last time.
"This time, they didn't just take the tortoises, they damaged the tank to get to them. After the last two were stolen, we put a heavy duty chain and padlock on the tank but they got through this.
"These creatures are very vulnerable and need careful looking after until they have built up enough strength to live outdoors.
"They need to be kept in a special warm environment and the equipment alone for this is around £200."
Forensic experts have taken the tank away to search for evidence, while CCTV footage from inside the store is being examined.
Sgt Brian Stanley, of Blackpool Police, said: "The time proximity of these two thefts, and the similarities in the way they were carried out, suggests we are dealing with the same people.
"These animals are expensive and could have been stolen to order on the back of the last theft but they could equally be sold to local pet shops or even in a pub. If anyone is offered a tortoise for sale from anywhere other than a reputable vendor, we want to hear about it."
The woman police are looking for was white, in her 30s, slim with strawberry-blonde hair tied back in a ponytail.
She was wearing a dark, waist-length coat with a striped scarf, jeans and was carrying a shoulder bag. She was joined by a white man in his 30s with dark spiky hair.
He wore a long beige coat with red lining, jeans, white trainers and black gloves.
The third thief was a white man in his late 50s early 60s. He had greying blond hair and was wearing a grey coat and dark trousers.
Anyone with information should call police on (01253) 293933 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Thieves have stolen expensive tortoises from a Fylde pet centre for the second time in a month.

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