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TOOELE — Two iguanas stolen from Rockstar Pets in Tooele were mysteriously returned Tuesday, store managers said.
Still, nobody has been identified as the culprit responsible for taking the exotic pets, which the store says are worth about $2,400 combined.
The iguanas were taken from the store either late Aug. 19 or early in the morning Aug. 20, according to Tooele police. They were suffering from slight dehydration and hunger when they were returned.
Nat Hood, who is a manager over the fish and reptiles at Rockstar Pets, said the store received a call Tuesday morning saying two pets were on the back porch of the business. Initially, Hood thought somebody was abandoning animals for the store employees to take care of, which she says has happened before.
Hood went to the back and picked up a white styrofoam box. In front of the other employees, she opened the box and removed the iguanas one by one.
"I was just yelling, 'They're home! They're home!'" Hood said. "We're all still flabbergasted that they're home."
Hood said store employees are still eager to find out who broke in and took the iguanas. Nothing else was taken during the burglary, police said.
I was just yelling, 'They're home! They're home!' We're all still flabbergasted that they're home.
–Nat Hood, Rockstar Pets manager
"Our theory is that they decided they're less likely to get caught if they just gave them up," Hood said, adding that one of the iguanas, which is one of only seven of its kind in the United States, would be difficult to hide.
The reptiles have been acting a bit moody and stressed since they were returned, but they are improving, according to Hood.
"We're happy they're home and relatively healthy and that's ultimately what's most important to us," she said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Tooele police at 435-882-5600.
Contributing: Marc Giauque, Nicole Vowell
