FULLERTON Call it the case of a tortoise on the lam.

A large Sulcata tortoise snuck into someone’s backyard on Friday, Nov. 17, prompting calls to Fullerton police and OC Animal Care.

That prompted a Tweet from the Fullerton police spokesman: “It’s not every day you get a call for a turtle ‘cruisin’ down the middle of the street. Perhaps he was on his way to the…Shell Station?”

The story has a happy ending.

It’s not everyday you get a call for a turtle “cruisin” down the middle of the street. Perhaps he was on his way to the…Shell Station? 🤣 🐢 #WeGotJokes #HereAllNight #ImprovGotNothinOnUs #FullertonNinjaTurtle pic.twitter.com/t4bcV9fXIW — FullertonPD PIO (@FPDPIO) November 18, 2017

Not long after animal control Officer Dan Bess picked up the tortoise on the 500 block of West Commonwealth Avenue Friday afternoon, Fullerton resident Isai Iturburo arrived home and saw that the family’s 45-pound tortoise was missing from their backyard.

Their pet pig, Pepa, was still there. But “Turbo,” the name his sons gave the tortoise when it became part of the family five years ago, had escaped.

Flashlight in hand, Iturburo went out looking for the pet.

“I was searching for hours and hours,” Iturburo said. “I’m new to the neighborhood. Two neighbors saw me and they got their flashlights and started helping.”

When his wife Jennifer got home, she looked on the OC Animal Care lost and found page and saw that officers had impounded a tortoise. The page lists mostly cats and dogs, but as of Saturday afternoon, there were also a rooster, a boa constrictor, a couple of rabbits and fish — not just one but two fish.

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks over at the agency. Earlier this month, they impounded an orphaned mountain lion cub, which soon will be on its way to the Oakland Zoo.

“We don’t get a lot of exotics. It’s been unusual,” said Lt. Scott Evans of OC Animal Care.

Back at the agency Saturday morning, Iturburo showed up with his three children to pick up the family pet.

Everyone was excited, especially his daughter.

“My little girl now wants a cat.”

No chance, he said. He’s allergic.