THIEVES who took a tropical tortoise from a shop in Sheerness have been warned by the owner that they are putting its life in danger.

Amanda Perfect, who runs Precious Pets in Broadway, said the sickly leopard tortise needs special food, anti-biotics and a controlled temperature to survive.

She added: “He had become unwell and I’m afraid he might die. He needs treatment. I would not like to say why they have taken him, but they are quite expensive animals.”

Ms Perfect said the one-year-old tortoise was taken from the rear of the store by two intruders last Friday afternoon between 1pm and 3pm. The men entered a roped-off area, undid the door to the reptile house and took the tortoise, which measures four inches across, from its tank. They closed the door and then left.

Police describe one man as aged between 19 and 22, of dark European appearance. He was 6ft tall, has a moustache and wore a white fleece jacket with the hood up. The second man was white, aged about 19 to 20, 6ft tall and wore a black leather jacket.

Ms Perfect has put a poster in her shop window appealing for anyone who is offered the reptile or who has information about the theft to contact her on 01795 669931 or Swale police on 01795 477055. Alternatively, callers can leave information confidentially with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.