A pet tortoise was crushed to death when intruders drove over it while trying to flee. Two people were caught on security camera appearing to try and steal Jasmine, a 200lb (90kg) Galapagos tortoise, out a garden. But when owner Jerry Fife, 63, was alerted to what was going on, he raced outside and spooked the intruders at about 2:30am on June 7. They got back in their truck and turned it around to escape but, as they left, tragically ran over the tortoise.

Jerry, who lives near Phoenix, Arizona, USA, said: "When my motion sensor went off, I assumed it was a coyote, bobcat but nothing to be concerned about. I was shocked to see a truck in my yard and two people trying to steal my tortoise. I ran outside in my underwear and threw a rake - the closest thing to grab - at the truck and yelled 'get out of here!' I was pretty much in shock the whole time, I wasn't sure due to the darkness if the truck had hit her, but I knew it was close. When I went and got a flashlight to check, I was just devastated to see her carapace, the top of the shell, crushed in. Basically the whole top of her shell was missing."

In the clip, two figures appear to bend down to scoop up Jasmine in order to steal her, before Jerry comes out shouting.