VENICE, FL (WTXL) - A Venice man really wanted money, so he stole a tortoise.
Venice Police say that the tortoise, named "Thing," was found by someone who wanted money - going so far as threatening to kill the animal.
Police discovered that Thing was sold to a local pet shop and that 28-year-old James Joseph Zing scraped the owner's phone number off the tortoise's shell and sold him to an aquarium.
Zing told police that he dropped the animal off at a park. However, the owner of the aquarium says that Zing was the person who sold him the tortoise.
Police say that Zing is being charged with one count of Dealing in Stolen Property, which is a felony.
