2 Baby Hermanns Tortoises stolen at the end of the TARAS Fall Show

[Greg West]

Mon, September 27, 2004
Police on tail of hot turtles
Teens sought after swipe

By NADIA MOHARIB, CALGARY SUN


As quick as a bunny, the thief fled with two hot turtles. But last night, cops were on the tails of two teen suspects after a pair of rare Hermans tortoises were stolen from a reptile show on the Stampede grounds yesterday.

The rightful owners -- breeders from B.C. -- said cops had identified the teens, who went into a Petland store for tortoise supplies, and were hoping to track them down and get the rare reptiles back alive and well.

Kevan Wallbank said he will not pursue charges if the tortoises are returned unharmed.

He's even willing to give the teens back the $300 they spent on one they actually bought.

"I'm just kind of bummed out," Wallbank said.

Hermans tortoises, so rare they are rarely seen in pet shops, grow to dinner-plate size and can live up to 80 years.

But Wallbank fears the thieves dumped his toonie-sized tortoises which need an environment of about 27 C.

"They probably won't survive the night," he said.

Hours earlier, Wallbank's wife, Beth, was leaning down to get a receipt for a teenage boy who bought one of the rare, pricey tortoises at the Alberta Reptile and Amphibian Society show when his weasel buddy took the opportunity to swipe two more of the tiny animals.

Wallbank tried to catch the thief, but lost him in the crowd.

A woman at a nearby Petland exhibit, however, said she had chatted with the pair prior to the theft about tortoise care.

Petland fanned out to all its shops to keep an eagle-eye out for any customers looking for turtle supplies.

A short time later, two teens -- who are now suspects -- showed up at the Westhills store and police were on the case.

Reptile show organizer Greg West said thefts from the shows are a sad reality once or twice a year.

"It's too bad, but some people are not as honest as most," he said


Nothing has turned up, and the tortoises still have not been returned. If you have any information please call 285-0998.

It will be on the news this afternoon on CBC as well so its great the media attention that it is getting.

Greg

[Linds]

That's really sad. I don't understand how people can be that way. Poor little torties, hopefully they survive :/ Hopefully someone has some info that can lead to their return.

[Katt]

I have to say, for being theives at least they researched and are actually buying stuff for the turtles. Interesting how they actually paid for one.

This after that GTP was stolen at the Spring show.

[Vanan]

Wonder if it's feasible to have security measures such as checking of receipts for people leaving the building as such. There's seems to be no strict control over the entry and exit of the public at most shows. Maybe having two "checkers" at the exits to ensure all animals leaving the show are paid for may work. Having shirt tags for vendors would enable them easier passageway through this system too. Just offering some suggestions as it would suck if the potential of theft at shows turns away vendors from attending.

[Ptindy]

Vanan that is an awesome idea! Receipts would never hurt anyone. Or maybe a sticker system where stickers are put on a purchased animal or product and the doorman takes it off the item. They would be universal with some sort of TARAS logo on it or something? Or whatever show it would be. Then the theif couldn't renter and try to use the same receipt. It has crossed my mind that stealing from these shows is possible with much ease as some vendors have 4 or 5 tables. Henry Piorun had a huge selection and he could only be in one place at one time. Either way I hope these tortoises are returned and purchases at Pet stores for toirtose foods are monitored closely. I would have loved to see them running away with them and just clothes lined them. That would have been fun. Any discriptions of these guys or better yet, pictures from a security camera at Petland? It always tells us we are on camera at Petland so they have to have something.


Mike

[Darren179]

well at the Missisauga show alot of vendors had locking displays which sat across the whole table. once a snake was purchased they would unlock it and then put it into a rubber maid. I think this system is effective enough for a reptile expo.

[Greg West]

Here is a picture of one of the babies I took at the show.

Greg

http://www.cornelsworld.com/hermanns.jpg

[concept3]

If I start gettin harrassed at the shows everytime I leave for receipts I would simply stop going to them. I do think theft is bull$#&@! but you cannot treat everyone like criminals because their is a couple of idiots out their who are to cheap to pay for the stuff they want. Infact it would make me so raging mad I would give the "checker" a peice of my mind.

[concept3]

by the way those torts are gorgeous, I sure hope you get them back, and If you do, please do us all a favour and charge them, maybe they wont do it again

[Greg West]

There is a reward offered by Beth for the safe return of the tortoises. Hopefully they get an act of concience and return it safe and sound.


Greg

[Vanan]

Originally posted by concept3
If I start gettin harrassed at the shows everytime I leave for receipts I would simply stop going to them. I do think theft is bull$#&@! but you cannot treat everyone like criminals because their is a couple of idiots out their who are to cheap to pay for the stuff they want. Infact it would make me so raging mad I would give the "checker" a peice of my mind.

Sad. Ever been in a chain store before, like Sears or Walmart? You must be popular then with their staff eh? Security measures are in check everywhere we go. At least we're not installing security cams and mirrors. Yeesh!

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the older TARAS shows have the sticker method to label purchases as legit? The NorthWest Captive Breeder's Expo in WA has checkers at the exits checking receipts. Not always but they do random checks on every other person.

[Vanan]

I wonder if it's the same guys who swiped Henry's GTP at the Spring show.

[concept3]

I dont know what things are like where you live but I have never seen a checker at walmart or sears

[Vanan]

Originally posted by concept3
I dont know what things are like where you live but I have never seen a checker at walmart or sears

Look closer next time.

[Greg West]

As far as we know we think it was a couple of teenagers. I think they may have ditched it as the police caught up to them later that night, but didn't do anything and no tortoises were returned. We did do the sticker method way back when, but with out someone checking purchases at the door, it doesn'treally do anything. It will be discussed at the next meeting if there is anyhting we can do to combat the problem.

Greg

[Lowell]

Vanan,

The sticker method was tried at a TARAS show a few years ago and worked well for the most part. The problem is that thieves aren't carrying animals out in containers, they're stuffed in pockets or packs and you'd need police intervention to search personal belongings etc.

With herp thefts at shows becoming so popular, I believe the lockdown display is the only real option. It may not be attractive, but you simply can't trust everyone.

I'm hoping the little maggots are caught and turned over and identified. Maybe if we introduce them to bats they will lose their affinity for stealing other people's reptiles...Preferably an aluminum specie of bat!

L

[gonesnakee]

If I ever catch anyone stealing (or attempting to) anything from any vendor at any show I can guarrantee you they will be dealt with swiftly & severely. IF the police were to be involved I would have them prosecuted to the full extent of the law. These punks need a lesson from the "School of Hard Knocks" one way or another. I have ZERO respect for thieves. Mark

[McPatch]

Sounds like you need a couple of bouncers on the job Greg.lolI think I can recomend a few.
I sure hope the little torts are found would be a shame for them to perish because of some stupid kids.

Darren

[leo_gexx]

As with every show it seems that something always gets stolen . The sticker method was tried before but when it started getting busy there wasn't enough people to act as security to check all animals. Another thing that was done in the past and I am not sure it was imposed at this show was to place board members in every corner and in each island so there was more being seen by the taras board. I think that when it comes to high priced items , theft proof displays would be the only answer . Its sad when you have to lock animals and it seems that toirtoises are a major target. An ornate box turtle was stolen out of a petstore lately and in the past other petstores had sulcatta's stolen. Its too bad that these little pinheads put such a marr on an otherwise great show.

[beth wallbank]

Thanks all for your support, and thank you to Greg, Lowell, and others that tried to help us scour the area for these buggers but to no avail. Thanks to the Petland employee (sorry name escapes me at this time) that acted so quickly and phoned her head office and send out an alert, and the idiots ended up at her store to buy the lights I recommended. Unfortunately, by the time we were able to get to the store, the kids were released as there was nothing to hold them on at the time, and are now probably dumped or in others hands. I just hope that someone somewhere hears of something. I have offered a reward for their returns, so if anyone hears or sees anything, please contact Greg at TARAS or myself personally. I do not blame anyone but myself for their being taken, and I think that TARAS did a great job at the show. Thanks for the great time otherwise.

[Slannesh]

Blah, that sucks Beth. Hope they're eventually returned to you.

I'll happily volunteer to be a 'bouncer' at any upcoming alberta shows. at 6'2" and 250lbs I think i'll manage OK :)

Concept: Ever wonder what those big stands are by the doors everytime you enter or leave pretty much any store these days? they're scanning you to make sure you didn't steal anything every time you enter or leave.

Now to play devil's advocate a bit... I know it's a pain but in almost every instance i've heard of a herp being stolen from a show they are easily preventable crimes of opportunity. Considering the value of some of these species i'd keep them under lock and key personally. Yes it's a pain in the rear to construct and lock/unlock a display case whenever you want to interact with them but it would have stopped almost all instances of theft that i've heard of in the last year or so.

[Cruciform]

A warning for any little thieves who might think to try something at a future show around the country.

Some of us are checking out more than the tables. And we're not worried about legal niceties like asking you to stop.

If I see you stealing from one of the hard working people at a show, the only warning you'll get is your legs going out from under you before you hit the pavement.

I've chased muggers and car thieves and if you think you're getting away with someone's babies, you'd better have eyes in the back of your head.

We're watching.

Hope the little scumbags see the error of their ways and return the tortoises. They're extremely cute.

[Gary D.]

As Lowell pointed out stickers or receipts really can't help stop theives from wallking out with an animal under their coat. Plus it takes extra volenteers which are already harder to get than womas nowdays.

We even had paid security on hand to boot. I know hind sight is 20/20 and of little help or comfort to Beth, but to any and all vendors at any up coming shows which you may be attending, if you see someone grab an animal first yell at the top of your lungs THEIF!!!!!! you will immediately have the attention of any and all other vendors to help.

Beth I hope there is a happy ending to this story for you.

Gary D.

[beth wallbank]

Thank you Gary, and to everyone else. Surely makes you loathe the human race at this time.

[rwg]

If you were selling valuable jewelry, you can bet it'd be under lock and key. If you have a deli-cup worth $750, why would it be sitting on the edge of a table like bargain books at the mall? I wouldn't leave my wallet sitting there for even a minute, and my wallet is generally worth a lot less than most herps at these shows. I dont mean to excuse this behavior..it's reprehensible and I hope thay are nailed for it, but theft is a fact of life businesses have to deal with. If it's low-priced items, you eat the loss and move on. If it's valuable items, you take extra pre-cautions. It sucks that we have to worry about this kind of thing, but we do.

I wonder why with so many witnesses they cant charge these punks anyway.

[justinO]

I'm sorry to hear about the loss and I hope they are returned safely.

On the subject of checking all animals for recepits, i don't know how well that would work. I know myself personally have bought and sold many animals at the shows privatly from other parties (not vendors).

[JonD]

Beth, sorry to hear of your loss. To all the bigger breeders out there. Why don't you just bring along a couple of people/volunteers to keep an eye on the table or have about 10-20 people roaming the show for everyone. Im sure there is alot of people on this board who would gladly help and it'd also let breeders get to personally know and share knowledge with potential customers. While increasing security. It's a win/win situation!

[Invictus]

I agree with Gary - yell "THIEF" at the top of your lungs and basically anyone who appears to be getting out in a hurry will probably be tackled and held for questioning by any breeder in the vacinity.

I also agree with Cruciform - had I witnessed this taking place, the only warning would be my elbow right in the back of their neck. I think thieves are among the LOWEST forms of slime on this planet. I only hope that when they find these jackasses, they find them with the tortoises in good health.

[Colonel_SB]

That is terrible I hope you get them bakc and soon!

[noname]

So sorry to hear about the loss Beth. I was at the show, and can't believe that anyone would have the nerve to steal something so precious. I agree that some sort of security measures need to be implemented, as there are some very valuable species at these shows. Ideally, we could hold shows such as the TARAS one, and trust that no one will pull anything like those two "punks", but sadly, society is hardly ideal. The sticker method that was mentioned above, sounds like the best idea to me. It doesn't require a lot of hassle on the part of the vendor, or the buyer. Perhaps a few more people at the door would be necessary, but this is hardly a nuisance when you look at what was, and has been lost in the past.

I hope the tortoises are found, and that those who stole them are punished appropriately. Best wishes Beth.

[Artemis]

Poor Beth- I hope they make it back to you.

I hate stealing. People who steal suck. It amazes me the number of people I actually have known who will steal things at the drop of a hat. A lot of people develop this moronic idea that the companies they steal from wont really miss it, and in some way they are "sticking it to the man." Meanwhile the companies DO miss it, and just drive prices up for the people who PAY for things to compensate for their losses. It sickens me to know the price of everything I buy would drop a LOT if people didnt steal. They arent stealing from the big companies, they are stealing from ME, ultimately.

It sucks that they let these kids go, but hopefully it at least scared them to the point it wont be something they want to do again. If you have their names, you might consider civil legal action. Any closed circut cameras at these shows perchance?

Best wishes for the Tortises-

Artemis