Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets or something of high value, whether it's stealing jewels, snatching purses or robbing banks. But criminals in Singapore hit a new low recently when they stole endangered species.

Granted, the average person doesn't have 10 rare and expensive tortoises in their back yard, but the theft from a private museum on Saturday is a reminder of the value of keeping your valuables locked up and safe.

The tortoises at the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum in Singapore were valued at $49,730, according to a Reuters story.

Stolen were three endangered radiated tortoises, one of the rarest tortoises in the world, and seven Indian star tortoises.

The thieves must think they'll find a buyer on the black market, because trade in the radiated tortoises is illegal because they're endangered, and Indian star tortoises are banned as pets in Singapore.

It's bad enough that mankind is killing species by the minute and that climate change is making it more difficult for all species to survive. But to have criminals add to the poor plight of endangered animals is about as low as thievery can go.