A tortoise was swiped from a Douglaston nonprofit educational center on Monday afternoon, according to reports.
On July 17 at around 4 p.m., an employee at the Alley Pond Environmental Center on Northern Boulevard contacted police after discovering a 17-year-old tortoise was taken from its enclosure, according to the New York Daily News.
The animal’s exhibit was pried open by the perpetrator, police said. Authorities were searching for surveillance footage at the center.
The investigation is ongoing.
“He’s been a part of this community for at least 10 years and the kids love him,” said Sasha Sicard, executive assistant at the center. “We would love to have him back with us and returned to his animal friends.”
The nonprofit center is located at 228-06 Northern Blvd. APEC’s mission is to educate children and adults, protect and preserve Alley Pond Park and its open spaces and advocate for sustainable environmental policies and practices.
