A MUM is calling on city residents to help find her family’s pet tortoise after it was snatched by thieves.

Charlotte Stringer from Bitterne said the theft of her family’s tortoise Sheldon has “devastated” her family.

The tortoise was a gift to her 10-year-old daughter Esme who is now extremely upset by the loss of her beloved pet.

'Devastated'

Charlotte believes Sheldon was stolen from their garage late Wednesday night or in the early hours of Thursday, October 6, morning.

Daily Echo: SheldonSheldon (Image: Charlotte Stringer)

The 32-year-old said: “When I woke up on Thursday morning my little girl Esme said I left the garage door open, but I didn’t, and I never leave it open.

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“I went to the garage and Sheldon was gone, along with all his food, bowls, and the cat carrier, which I think they put him in.

“Esme is devastated. We contacted the police and they said there were a lot of burglaries in the area that night.

“We’ve had a tortoise before, but it died four weeks after we got it, and we had a kitten that was run over at Easter, so Esme is just beside herself.”

'Awful and upsetting'

Charlotte said she has been posting appeals to find Sheldon across social media and that Esme has made posters to stick up in their neighbourhood.

She said: “We want Sheldon home.

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“It’s awful and upsetting seeing Esme like this, especially knowing I can’t do anything about it.

“We have put it all over social media in the hopes that somebody might know something.

“Even if he was returned home in a cardboard box and the thief remained anonymous, it would mean the world to have him back.

“He is part of the family.”

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