The Tooele City Police Department has identified the man they believe is responsible for the theft of two rare iguanas from a Tooele pet store on Aug. 20.
Christopher Proctor, 35, of Tooele, is the primary suspect in the case, but the motive behind the burglary of Rockstar Pets and theft of the iguanas is not known, police said. The iguanas, including a valuable male Crutchfield albino morph, were returned to the store anonymously on Aug. 25.
According to Tooele City police, Proctor allegedly forced entry into the store, which damaged the roof and suspended ceiling in the shop at 215 N. Main St., and left with only the two iguanas.
Proctor returned the iguanas last Tuesday afternoon by leaving them in a styrofoam box behind the store. He then called Rockstar Pets from a pay phone, informing them that an animal had been left behind the building and identified the box.
When store personnel found and opened the box, which had been taped shut, they found the two iguanas inside a blue pillowcase. The iguanas were irritable and slightly dehydrated but otherwise unharmed, store manager Natalie Hood said in an interview last week.
The police were able to trace the phone call to a pay phone in Tooele City and then obtained surveillance footage of the call. Detectives and Rockstar Pet employees were able to identify the man shown making the call as Proctor.
The Tooele City Police Department forwarded charges of third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor vandalism to the Tooele County Attorney’s Office.