(Chicago) Authorities looking for iguana thief - Press Item

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on January 07, 2000 at 14:53:57:

DAILY SOUTHTOWN (Chicago) 07 January 00 Authorities looking for iguana thief: Reptile is stolen from SD 123 science center (Lisa Pevtzow)
A $200 reward has been offered for information leading to the return of an iguana stolen from the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 science center, probably by children who didn't realize that iguanas make lousy pets, authorities said.
"The kids loved him," said Serena Banais, the Oak Lawn resident posting the reward. "Someone loved him a little too much."
The reptile, nicknamed "Icky" by the schoolchildren for his scaly appearance, was taken sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday from the science center, 8901 S. 52nd Ave., Oak Lawn Police Sgt. Mike Kaufmann said.
Kaufmann, who says he believes children probably stole the iguana, is requesting that any parents with an unfamiliar iguana in their house contact police.
"Someone came home with an iguana that night," he said.
The 2-year-old male iguana is about 3-feet long and changes colors with his environment, Banais said. It has sharp teeth, bites and will grow to about 6-feet long when it reaches its full maturity.
"We're really worried," Banais said. Iguanas "are beautiful but they're really hard to take care of and don't make good pets."
"I'm scared that whoever took him might have had enough of him by now and he can't survive in this weather," she said.
The iguana, a species originally from the South American rain forests, is owned by the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, which let Banais, a volunteer there, take it home because the shelter was overwhelmed with iguanas.
Banais named the iguana "Guangi" after a dinosaur movie she saw years ago and arranged to let the district foster him a few weeks before Christmas. The children informally called him "Icky," said Pete Boersma, a custodian at the science center.
Explaining why she decided to offer the large reward for the iguana, which probably is worth no more than about $100, Banais said she felt responsible because she was the one who gave him to the district to begin with.
"We're really trying to get the people who did this," she said.
Kaufmann said that someone smashed the window of the room housing the iguana, reached inside and grabbed the iguana, cracking the side of his glass tank. Fingerprints were left all over the area, he said.
Two other tanks inside the room were smashed, killing three fish inside, Boersma said. But nothing else from the room, which also holds turtles and a tarantula, was stolen or destroyed, police said.
Banais said the iguana needs to be kept in a warm place and fed a special diet heavy on calcium.
Anyone with information about the missing iguana are being requested to call Oak Lawn Police at (708) 499-7846.

Authorities looking for iguana thief

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: DAILY SOUTHTOWN (Chicago) 07 January 00 Authorities looking for iguana thief: Reptile is stolen from SD 123 science center (Lisa Pevtzow) : A $200 reward has been offered for information leading to the return of an iguana stolen from the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 science center, probably by children who didn't realize that iguanas make lousy pets, authorities said. : "The kids loved him," said Serena Banais, the Oak Lawn resident posting the reward. "Someone loved him a little too much." : The reptile, nicknamed "Icky" by the schoolchildren for his scaly appearance, was taken sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday from the science center, 8901 S. 52nd Ave., Oak Lawn Police Sgt. Mike Kaufmann said. : Kaufmann, who says he believes children probably stole the iguana, is requesting that any parents with an unfamiliar iguana in their house contact police. : "Someone came home with an iguana that night," he said. : The 2-year-old male iguana is about 3-feet long and changes colors with his environment, Banais said. It has sharp teeth, bites and will grow to about 6-feet long when it reaches its full maturity. : "We're really worried," Banais said. Iguanas "are beautiful but they're really hard to take care of and don't make good pets." : "I'm scared that whoever took him might have had enough of him by now and he can't survive in this weather," she said. : The iguana, a species originally from the South American rain forests, is owned by the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, which let Banais, a volunteer there, take it home because the shelter was overwhelmed with iguanas. : Banais named the iguana "Guangi" after a dinosaur movie she saw years ago and arranged to let the district foster him a few weeks before Christmas. The children informally called him "Icky," said Pete Boersma, a custodian at the science center. : Explaining why she decided to offer the large reward for the iguana, which probably is worth no more than about $100, Banais said she felt responsible because she was the one who gave him to the district to begin with. : "We're really trying to get the people who did this," she said. : Kaufmann said that someone smashed the window of the room housing the iguana, reached inside and grabbed the iguana, cracking the side of his glass tank. Fingerprints were left all over the area, he said. : Two other tanks inside the room were smashed, killing three fish inside, Boersma said. But nothing else from the room, which also holds turtles and a tarantula, was stolen or destroyed, police said. : Banais said the iguana needs to be kept in a warm place and fed a special diet heavy on calcium. : Anyone with information about the missing iguana are being requested to call Oak Lawn Police at (708) 499-7846.

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