The CCTV footage shows the woman walk into the store without anything but then leave with the enclosure the geckos was in.
The Exotics Hub in Kingston Upon Hull in the United Kingdom posted on social media that a gargoyle gecko was stolen from its shop by a woman in what looks like a long black coat. The alleged theft occurred April 4, 2024 at around 2:20 p.m. The reptile shop initially wrote on Facebook that return of the gecko would result in no notification of the police, but since the gecko wasn’t returned, the shop’s owner reported the theft to the police. The shop’s and neighboring store CCTV footage was also turned over to the police. The footage shows the woman walk into the store without anything but then leave with the enclosure the gecko was in.
Gargoyle Gecko Photo by reptiles4all/Shutterstock
“Our concern isn’t the cost it’s the welfare of the animal and the fact it has not got it’s requirements it needs as far as we know and no food so it was due feeding today and god knows how it is now been kept,” the shop wrote on Facebook. “Please keep sharing as this woman (person) needs to be dealt with as it is animal neglect and theft she has done. We do know she has a dog (Jack Russell) with pink and green spray on it. So will be obvious to others when she’s out walking it. Thank you all for helping us in finding the person and hopefully the gecko.”
The gecko was born in January and was stolen along with its temporary vivarium.
When people resort to theft of reptiles, it is probably likely the thieves lack the means to care for the animals and may be out for a quick buck. At any rate, please share until this person gets her day in court.
The gargoyle gecko is a popular gecko amongst reptile keepers. Widely captive bred, the gargoyle gecko, like the crested gecko, is native to the islands of New Caledonia. Its range however is smaller, restricted to Grand Terre on the main island of New Caledonia.
