70-Pound Tortoise Stolen From Lincolnwood Pet Store
CHICAGO (STMW) - A 70-pound tortoise was stolen early Saturday from the display window of an exotic animal store in north suburban Lincolnwood.
About 4 a.m., someone broke the glass front door of The Animal Store, located at 4364 W. Touhy Ave., and stole the 35-year-old tortoise from his pen in the display window, said store owner, Kenn Bearman.
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Bearman said he has owned Spur, a female Sulcata tortoise, since the store opened 20 years ago. The sub-Saharan African animal was well known in the community.
"She was the store mascot," Bearman said. "All the kids knew her. She would visit retirement homes and kids' parties."
Surveillance video captured only the foot of the person entering the store to steal the tortoise, Bearman said. No other animals were taken from the store, which sells exotic animals "except dogs," including hedgehogs, tarantulas and chinchillas, he said.
"I hope to get her back," Bearman said.
The theft was reported to police and Bearman has posted the incident on his blog and Facebook.
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