WXXV (Waco, Texas) 03 August 07 A Thief Slithers off With Hundreds of Dollars in Python Snakes
Snakes Stolen by Customer? (Samica Knight)
Copperas Cove: A thief walks into an exotic pet store and makes off with six python snakes. The suspect was caught on surveillance video Saturday at Chameleon Encounters, grabbing an aquarium with the baby ball pythons inside, then walking out with them.
According to the owner, this wasn't a random occurrence.
"I absolutely know I've seen him before," said Keith Northrup. "No doubt he comes in here once a week."
Northrup valued the reptiles at more than $500 dollars.
The camera watched as the suspect and another woman carried out their plan.
Northrup added, "His girlfriend was with him. They came in together."
He made his rounds and looked at everything, Northrup said. Then, the suspect went right for the tank carrying the ball pythons, opened the door, picked it up and went out.
While Northrup's wife said it is money lost, she is more concerned about the well-being of the reptiles.
"I was concerned about the little babies and whether they would be taken care of," Sandra Northrup said.
As for Keith Northrup, he has a few tricks up his sleeve.
"I've solved every theft," he said. "There hasn't been a single one that I haven't solved and this one is right on the verge of being solved."
Copperas Cove police are investigating the crime as well. Even if the suspect is caught, the theft is classified as shoplifting, a Class A Misdemeanor.
In the seven years the Northrups have owned the store, they said they haven't had a theft as blatant as this one.
A Thief Slithers off With Hundreds of Dollars in Python Snakes