Thief makes off with reptiles from Calif. museum

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A 7-foot-long boa constrictor, two ball pythons and a monitor lizard were stolen from a Central California science museum by a man who was caught on camera throwing the reptiles into a plastic trash bag.

Workers at the Discovery Center in Fresno discovered the theft Thursday morning, the center's director, Mary Ellen Wright, told the Fresno Bee (http://bit.ly/Yk5G8m). The unidentified suspect apparently broke in overnight, smashing the tanks that held the reptiles.

Surveillance video showed the man putting four reptiles into a garbage bag: the red-tailed boa constrictor, two 3-foot-long pythons and a 3 1/2-foot savannah monitor lizard. The suspect also went into the center's gift shop and took children's toys, the phone system and the security monitor, the Bee reported.

Wright said the reptiles — worth hundreds of dollars — are mortal enemies, and she is worried about their conditions.

"It would be like throwing two pit bulls in a locked room," she said.

Wright said the animals also could injure the thief. The monitor lizard has sharp, 2-inch claws.

Police are looking at the video, according to the Bee. A call to a Fresno police spokesman Friday was not immediately returned.

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

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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

View the original article here