Turtles, Koi Fish, Chicken Stolen From L.I. Pet Shop

WEST ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Thirteen small turtles, numerous koi fish and a chicken were recently stolen from a pet shop on Long Island.

The thief struck the B.T.J.'s Jungle shop on Sunrise Highway in West Islip on Oct. 7, but it took the pet shop until this weekend to report it to police.

"We had two chickens – Heckle and Jekyll, which was the black silky chicken we had here," owner William Niehoff said.

Niehoff said the suspect also stole the second chicken, but was not able to catch the bird.

The thief took koi fish from the big koi pond at the shop, and some smaller koi from a tub, Niehoff said.

The owner told 1010 WINS the koi fish are worth $400 apiece, and the estimated total loss is $1,500.

A surveillance video showed a man in a hoodie with a pillowcase taking the turtles out of a bin in the backyard of the pet shop, the owner said.

The owner had no idea whether the thief wanted his own menagerie or planned to sell them. Either way, he wants the animals back.

Anyone with information on the crime as asked to call Suffolk County police.

No arrests had been reported as of early Saturday afternoon.

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