How Marsden Pet & Produce got its stolen turtle ‘Sprinkles’ back from thieves

Enraged by the theft of their beloved pet turtle ‘Sprinkles’ a Logan pet store employee took matters into her own hands to retrieve the lost reptile. SEE THE VIDEO

A dedicated pet store worker has managed to track down the home address of a couple who stole the store’s beloved turtle, with the help of local community Facebook groups and the turtle nabbers ex-girlfriend.

Marsden Pet & Produce employee Tara Crosby said on Tuesday afternoon a ‘dodgy looking’ couple entered the Logan store.

“Around 1pm they came in and the guy bought some chook food,” she said.

“That afternoon when doing our daily welfare check on the animals we realised Sprinkles the turtle was missing. He’s the alpha turtle and bullies the other turtles a little so we thought naming him Sprinkles would knock him down a peg or two.

“We had a look at the CCTV footage and saw that while that guy was paying for the chook food his partner had her hand in the tank and took Sprinkles.”

Ms Crosby said her boss asked her if she recognised the turtle thieves, and from then on she was on a mission to bring Sprinkles back home.

“I said no I don’t but I’m a mum in Logan so I can figure anything out. Nothing gets past me,” she said.

Marsden Pet & Produce employee Tara Crosby with Sprinkles the turtle. Photo: contributed.

That night Ms Crosby went ham on all of the Logan community Facebook groups she could think of, posting a small clip of the CCTV footage and her phone number.

“We had to get Sprinkles back and this seemed like as good a way as any,” she said.

“Not long after I got a phone call from this girl saying the guy in the CCTV clip was her ex-boyfriend.

“She gave me his name, his new girlfriends name, even their home address so yeah I know where the thieves live.

“I wasn’t going to just rock up at their place though so I had a bit of a Facebook stalk and found them both. They were both friends, in pictures together, and had been tagging each other in lots of gross couple posts so I knew it had to be them.”

Her next step was to message both of the turtle nabbers.

“The ex-girlfriend also told me that he was a well known turtle thief,” Ms Crosby said.

“Apparently he’d stolen a turtle from her to give to his new girlfriends kids. Crazy stuff.

“I messaged him and told him if he didn’t drop Sprinkles back at the shop by 5.15pm (Thursday) then I would be going to the cops.”

Ms Crosby said he dropped Sprinkles home, but cruelly left him outside in direct sun in a tiny container of water.

“Then after all of that he blocked me on Facebook,” she said.

”Turtles are only about $125 to buy but you do need a reptile license and I dare say he didn’t have the license.

“But we’re just happy Sprinkles is home where he belongs.”