A pet tortoise which is believed to have been part of a family for more than 40 years has been stolen from a garden in Northampton, police have revealed.
The “large” pet was stolen from a garden in Kenilworth Close, Duston, earlier this month.
Police have today made a public appeal in a bid to reunite the owner with the stolen reptile.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: “We are appealing for information about the theft of an old tortoise from a garden in Duston, Northampton.
“At some time on Friday, June 7, someone removed the large tortoise from the back garden of a house in Kenilworth Close.
“The garden gate was secured with a padlock, so the offender possibly climbed a side fence to gain access to the garden.
“The garden is enclosed and has raised borders to prevent the tortoise escaping and the owner is quite sure it has been stolen – the tortoise has been in the garden for the last 40 years.”