I protect my reptiles by literally not telling any visitors what is in the room they are in, if asked I say storage. Anyone who knows I keep snakes and tortoises doesn't get to visit, if they want to meet there is a café down the road that I can use.

I am somewhat paranoid about my pets you see. Tortoises in the Uk are worth £125 for a Hermans hatchling and £150 per Mediterranean spur thigh hatchling so better safe than sorry.