Elyria police charge 2 after stolen tortoise returned to pet shop

ELYRIA — The Great Elyria Tortoise Caper of 2021 has been solved after police charged two Lorain women with stealing a red-footed tortoise and pet care items from a pet shop last month. Kristen Seljan, 32, and Latrice Thomas, 40, were issued summonses to appear in Elyria Municipal Court on misdemeanor theft charges, Elyria police said. The women were booked and released after being notified of their court dates. On Feb. 19, Best in Pets at 233 N. Abbe Road reported that a white female and a Black female in a red GMC SUV entered the store and stole $478 worth of merchandise — including light fixtures, halogen bulbs, heat mats, a water dispenser and the tortoise, which by itself was worth $279. The women then fled. The story of the theft and photos of the suspects were posted on the store's social media and an anonymous tip identified Thomas as one of the culprits, police said. Officer John Brown called Thomas on Feb. 25 and she admitted over the phone "it was her along with a female named 'Kristen'" and said Kristen had the tortoise "and she would contact her to arrange it to be returned to the store,'" according to a police report. Seljan spoke with police by phone and admitted the theft, and along with Thomas brought the stolen items and a box carrying the tortoise to the Elyria Police Department on Feb. 26 and surrendered the stolen items. Thomas "was apologetic for being involved" and blamed the theft on Seljan, according to the police report. Seljan later told police she had bought a tortoise from the store on Feb. 6 but "it appeared ill" and it was likely she bought the wrong items to care for the animal. She said she was upset that the store would not let her return a portion of the $468 in items she bought on Feb. 6 and admitted stealing "what was needed to care for the tortoise she purchased." Thomas told police she "is going through a lot due to stressors in her home life," is on probation "and spending time with negative influences" like Seljan, whom she said she knew planned to steal items from Best in Pets on the day of the theft, according to the police report. The final list of stolen items was worth nearly $512, according to police. The stolen tortoise, which also was returned, "appeared to be in good health," police said.