South County : Valuable Microscope Is Stolen at Marine Lab

A microscope valued at $1,800, described as “the bread and butter tool” in the treatment of ailing sea creatures, was stolen from the laboratory of the Friends of the Sea Lion Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Canyon, the center’s administrative officer said Friday.

Bill Ford said someone apparently used a heavy wrench to twist off a door latch sometime Thursday night or early Friday and made off with the microscope and a $40 stethoscope.

Both instruments, he said, are invaluable in diagnosing and treating the ailments of sick or injured sea lions, harbor seals and elephant seals--all of which are taken in by the nonprofit center. Eight such animals that were in the compound at the time of the burglary were not harmed.

“We have a feeling that the thief might have been after drugs,” Ford said, “but we do not keep drugs or any controlled substances in our lab. When such substances are needed to treat an animal, we take it to a veterinarian.”

The fact that the center is a nonprofit organization, dependent on gifts and donations, “makes the cost of the instruments seem very high,” Ford said.

Police were called to the scene to try to collect fingerprints from the wrench and other items.