Monkeys, snakes and a tortoise stolen in pet shop burglary

Police at Reptacular

A number of exotic animals have been stolen from a pet shop in a bizarre burglary that has left the owner worried about their welfare.

Two monkeys, 10 snakes and a tortoise were among the livestock stolen from Reptacular on Milnrow Road on Wednesday night (25 May), along with £160 in cash, various animal cages and the CCTV system.

This is the second burglary to take place at the pet shop in 12 months:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/96287/reptacular-burglary

Owner Dave Charlton arrived at 9.00am to find the shop had been ransacked.

He said: “I opened up as usual, the lights were on and it felt cold, so I walked through and noticed the cellar doors open and a plant in the back knocked over. I carried on through to the back where I saw the door to the toilet had been kicked through – then it hit me what had happened.

“I checked that the more dangerous animals were still there, which they were, then it the dawned on me to check on the resident marmosets, I went upstairs to discover there was so sign of them.

This the second time in 12 months and it is just as devastating, even more so knowing the monkeys were not in the enclosure.

“We just hope again that these animals are been looked after. They need special care and should be returned to us.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called to a burglary at Reptacular pet store on Milnrow Road. Livestock and cash has been taken from the building. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.