Man charged for stealing baby tortoises

By Tess Klein

West Allis, Wisconsin (WTMJ) -- A Milwaukee man has been arrested and charged for stealing five baby tortoises from a West Allis Pet World.

Gary Kaczynski, 32, has been charged with retail theft. Police say surveillance footage captured him stealing five baby Sulcata tortoises in his jacket sleeve from the turtle tank at Pet World on Feb. 26.

The tortoises retail for $179.99 each, making the total value stolen $899.95.

Kaczynski's sister saw the surveillance video and told Detective Archie Dunbar that it was her brother. She also said her brother posted a video on Facebook of someone holding two small tortoises and pretending to make them talk. The video has since been deleted.

If convicted, he faces up to three and a half years behind bars and up to a $10,000 fine.

Kaczynski was released on conditions of bond/bail for a different felony offense of retail theft on Jan. 22.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

Share this article: