Family's pet tortoise missing

WESTON, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida family is upset after they said their pet tortoise was taken from their yard.

J.C. Fernandez and his family said someone took their nearly 50-pound tortoise they call Tica, while they were away on vacation. Fernandez said they have had the 13-year-old African land tortoise since she was small.

Fernandez said there is no way Tica could not have gotten out her cage or his fenced-in yard. "I don't see how she would have gotten through here," he said.

Fernandez knows of one reason why someone might have taken Tica. "Well she is worth about $2,000," he said.

Another tortoise went missing last month in Palmetto Bay. His owner also thought he was possible stolen. Luckily, a police officer found him not far from his home a few weeks later.

Fernandez is hoping that will be the outcome for his pet tortoise. "If we can get Tica back to us, they'll be no questions asked. You'll be rewarded. They'll be no questions," he said.

(Copyright 2012 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)