Brandon Twp – Edith Hastings, of Edith’s Pets is glad to get her exotic Sugar Gliders back and hopes the culprit who took them gets punished.
While the pets are doing fine, Hastings said she is upset that the little guys disappeared from her store.
“These are an exotic pets that are fruit eaters and not an easy animal to care for,” said Hastings.
“I am going to prosecute, and I hope they get some kind of punishment,” she said.
Hastings remembers the face of the suspected pet napper because he looks like her cousin, she said. Plus the suspect has been in her store before.
The Gliders disappeared from the Edith’s store on Sept. 10, after a couple came into the store and questioned her about cat toys.
“He came in here twice that day,” said Hastings. “He came in earlier and then he and his girlfriend came back in looking for cat toys.”
“When he asked her for money she wouldn’t give it to him and she then ran out of the store,” Hastings continued.
“He put the toy down on the counter and said he had to go get cigarettes and he would be back.”
“They never came back and a little while later I noticed the gliders missing.”
Quick thinking by Hastings led police to the door of the suspect, and the safe return of the Sugar Gliders.
As soon as she realized the gliders were missing, Hasting called other area pet shops alerting them of the theft and giving a description of the suspected pair. Waterford Fancy Fins and Feathers, quickly returned Hastings’ call, telling her a man matching the description came into the store to sell a glider pair. The store owner was able to obtain a vehicle description and license number of the suspect, who lived at a Brandon Township, Clarkston address.
When the Oakland County Sheriff’s questioned the man, who admitted taking the glider pair, he claimed he didn’t think Edith was taking good care of the animals. The suspect returned the Gliders to Hasting that night.
Hastings, however, accuses the suspect of stealing the gliders to make money off of them.
“He stole them because he’s looking for money,” claimed Hastings.
“I’ve had them for a couple of years because I haven’t found anyone I thought could take proper care of them,” she continued.
“He actually put up a sign at Moby Dick’s (pet store) that night, trying to sell them with his phone number on the sign.”
Hastings is happy to have the gliders back and credits their quick return to the networking among pet shop owners.
Hastings said she hasn’t had a theft in several years, since two prairie dogs came up missing.
Hastings said there is still a matter of four missing bearded dragons and a tortoise from Highland Tropical that might be connected to this crime.