WBOC TV 16 Delmarva’s News Leader New Castle County Police are seeking information regarding the theft of a 50 pound Brown and Tan African Fulcata Tortoise that was stolen from the Greenbank Aquarium on Friday afternoon. County Police say it happened around 2pm., at the Aquarium located on on Greenbank Road in Wilmington. An employee of the store tol…d police that the Tortoise is capable of opening the front door, but he routinely just roams the store during business hours and has for the past 15 years. The surrounding area and businesses were checked and the Tortoise was not located. Anyone with info is asked to contact the New Castle County Police Department at 302-395-8110 or Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.
50-pound tortoise goes missing from outside aquarium store
Has anybody seen Roger the missing tortoise?
The 50-pound brown-and-tan African Fulcata tortoise appears to have been stolen Friday afternoon from in front of the Greenbank Aquarium.
Although the store called New Castle County police by phone Friday to report the apparent theft, police just released the information today.
The theft occurred about 2 p.m. while Roger was outside the store in the 100 block of Greenbank Road chomping on grass.
His owner, Billy Williams, is offering a reward for the tortoise’s safe return.
Roger, who is 16 years old, has been a fixture at the pet store, attracting a core of fans who would come in just to pet him, Williams said.
“Everybody is going to miss Roger,†he said. “They’re going to be as sick to their stomachs as I am.â€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
The tortoise was given free reign of the store and wandered around just like a dog.
Roger even knew how to open the front door, said Williams, who has owned the tortoise since he was “the size of a tennis ball.â€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
“He uses his right leg to open the front door and pushed it open like a Sherman tank,†he said. “He’s very fast for a big turtle. And he’s very social. He’s got a great personality for a turtle."
Williams, who is on vacation in Key West now, got the news that his tortoise was missing when his plane landed.
If anybody has any information about Roger’s whereabouts, they are asked to call police at 395-8110 or text a tip to TIP411; begin the message with NCCPD and then type the tip.
The public can also call Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.
I hope someone finds/returns the turtle, it’s sad to live within a society where pets are stolen; especially when specific care is required in order for the well being of the creature.
Man that sad, isn’t too surprising though considering the area the shop is in and the type of people that frequent the shop. Hope they find the tortoise and it is still doing alright.
BTW, tortoise is not the same as turtle.
While it is a shame the tortoise has gone missing - why was it left outside unattended?
I wouldn’t let my dog in the front yard without his lead on, Roger should have been better protected.
I remember Billy was shot during a robbery a few years ago, the store is definitely in a shady area. My guess is that it was some kids who stole the tortoise.
I don’t think Billy was shot. In a store down the street an LFS owner was shot and killed.
Define kids, lol. Wasn’t anyone too young unless it took 3 of them to lift the thing. That is/was no little animal.
Good question Craig. Probably because when left inside it would crap on the floor and piss like a race horse. No clean up required when you let it outside.
ohh no roger…hopefully someone brings him back. he was awesome. i cant believe someone would do such a thing. stupid ignorant people.
By kids I was referring to teenagers,14-17. I know in Hockessin, at the Pet store in lanatana,two girls who were around 16 walked out of the store with a very expensive puppy. My mistake regarding the shooting, wasn’t Greenbank robbed a few times?
Dam,
Somebody took Roger THAT SUCKS.
There has been times when I’ve been up there and the he has walked out the front door.
VERY sad hope he is found.
I’m not surprised, what ever happened I hope roger is ok… but the last 2 times I went there in the last 3 months the 2 guys working there told me they hated him, and was a pain in the (lolli-pop) he kept running out and they barricaded him behind a few heavy boxes that he pushed out of the way and escaped.
Maybe he was stolen, maybe someone is enjoying turtle soup?
edit: loli-pop? really 3 grade editing now? it was *** i ment to say.
I agree Tim it is childish to take a curse word and convert it to something like lolli-pop, but I didn’t make the filter. Please don’t try to work around the filter though, keep it clean.
They found the tortoise.
You know every LFS owner in the area has got be considering what animals they could bring and have stolen and get themselves highlighted on the news.
Captain Nemo’s, formerly Big Al’s aquarium, up in PA had a two headed turtle that brought them buzz online, features in trade magazines, and articles in every local paper and news program. Now Bill’s tortoise got his shop featured in the news and in all the papers. Why can’t one of our lesser LFS bring in some sea turtles and get busted and put on the news and another LFS steps up as being the environmentally responsible alternative. Couldn’t ever happen.
Why couldn’t it happen? Well anyone of us could call them out and say, “Yeah you’re environmentally responsible now that you can make a name for it, but you never advertising doing so in the past. No mention that you recycle, no recycling containers found in your store, no advertising on your site that you changed your lighting to cut your CO2 foot print, no mention of company vehicles that use less fuel, no… nothing.â€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
Is it wrong of me to call them out and put our LFS into a position they could potentially profit off of now, seeing that going “green†is the trendy thing to do, and in some crazy whacked out scenario like mentioned about with sea turtles?
Btw… turtle, tortoise, friggin kangaroo! Who gives a crap what the correct genus or whatever of the animal is. The point of the post was that a lfs has lost an 18 year old pet, and anyone with any info might be able to help locate it.
It was found yesterday. Roaming a nearby apartment complex. So may not of been stolen after all. But luckily the guy got his pet back. Whatever u want to call it.
Pretty sick way to get free advertising, if that’s what’s being implied here… seems like maybe some folks simply have a bone with bill, and it extremely apparent.
[quote=“TimH07, post:11, topic:3316”]
edit: loli-pop? really 3 grade editing now? [/quote]
Honestly I kind of like the filter - -made me laugh when I read your post >LOL<
[quote=“fishguy9, post:15, topic:3316”]
Btw… turtle, tortoise, friggin kangaroo! Who gives a crap what the correct genus or whatever of the animal is.[/quote]
Clown fish, clown trigger. Whatever a clown is a clown.
Tortoise would likely sink like a rock if placed in a pool and down to death. Potato, patato.
Ok… here comes the completely irrevelant argument. But, since u insist.
from what im gathering on these 2… a tortoise is indeed a type of turtle. BUT not all turtles are tortoises. (From a biological standpoint)
…here comes the google pros, with all the info we never needed on turtles and tortoises…
Guys ???
Turtle or tortoise, it’s got a shell, 4 legs a head and a tail.
Most of us have seen it but the sad fact is something happen to it. Lets focus on that .[quote=“billrob71, post:19, topic:3316”]
Guys ???
Turtle or tortoise, it’s got a shell, 4 legs a head and a tail.
Most of us have seen it but the sad fact is something happen to it. Lets focus on that .[/quote]
They found it - it’s ok - it was wandering around the apartments across the street. It is now completely acceptable to get sidetracked aand discuss the biological differences between turtles and tortises.