INDIANAPOLIS — Personnel at the Indianapolis Zoo first noticed a pair of rare, endangered tortoises were missing after a routine morning count on Oct. 12. Zoo staff didn't report the tortoises missing to Indiana State Police until 11 days later on Oct. 23.

According to ISP, the reptiles were snatched out of their enclosure in the desert exhibit sometime between 10 a.m. on Oct. 11 and 10 a.m. on Oct. 12.

Investigators said the thief stole an Egyptian tortoise and a Northern Spider tortoise. Both are critically endangered due to the pet trade and poaching, according to the zoo's website.

"The tortoises are not the large giant tortoises that you see people sitting on and riding around on," Captain Ron Galaviz with the Indiana State Police said. "These are actually very small, probably fit

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