3 of 4 stolen from Calif. reptiles. found

FRESNO, California (AP)--three of the four reptiles that were scrubbed from a Science Museum and thrown together in a bag of garbage during a robbery were recovered Friday, although a Python by 3 feet long remained at large, officials said.

The 3.5-foot monitor lizard savannah, a 7-foot boa Red-tailed length and another 3-foot-long ball python were in good condition, said Mary Ellen Wright, Director of the Center for discovery of Fresno. The authorities were looking for missing python in an area frequented by a suspect, who was arrested.

Wright had been worried about containment of the reptiles together in the bag "because they are deadly enemies," he said.

"It would be like throwing two pit bull in a closed room," he added, noting that the monitor lizard has sharp claws, 2-inch.

The reptiles were taken in a robbery that has puzzled officials and Museum authorities, who have not released a motive. The Museum's education Coordinator, Ian Goudelock, said that the suspect does not seem to be out to intentionally hurt animals even if the Museum planned for the reptilians controlled by a veterinarian.

"It's just a weird theft. We're still trying to figure out why, "he said. "Kind of more or less have a happy ending."

Surveillance Video showed the suspect broke into the Central California Museum sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday, smashing tanks that hold the four reptiles — worth hundreds of dollars — and popped in a garbage bag.

The suspect also went into a souvenir shop and stole the children's toys, the telephone system and the safety monitor, Fresno Bee reported.

Fresno police have not released the suspect's name.

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Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com

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