A suspect in the theft of a tortoise from a Colorado Springs pet store has been accused of stealing a turtle before. Justin Edwards allegedly stole the tortoise, named Howard, from Scales ‘N Tails Exotic Pet Shop in broad daylight. According to police, Edwards told the store owner he needed to get change from his car, then drove around to the back of the store and took the tortoise.
Prior Crimes
Edwards has a history of similar crimes, including a recent arrest in Castle Rock for stealing a turtle. The store owner said Howard is priceless, but could be sold for $1,000. The tortoise was recovered and returned to the store, and Edwards was taken into custody.
The day after Howard was stolen, Edwards allegedly stole a tarp and a tent from a local REI store. Police tracked him down and took him into custody, but he was not with the tortoise at the time. Eventually, police found Howard and brought him back to the store.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
