WTLV (Jacksonville, Florida) 12 March 08 Vandals Trash Alligator Farm (Kristin Smith)
St. Augustine, FL: Investigators are looking for three people caught on tape vandalizing the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine.
The director of the farm says the vandalism happened sometime Tuesday between 11 p.m. and midnight.
Surveillance video shows three people, possibly boys in their late teens, entering the farm.
John Brueggan says the boys took roughly 15 wet floor cones and garbage can lids and threw them at the alligators in the front display of the park as well as the back area swamp.
"These kids were on a rampage. Turning over statues and throwing things around and clearly trying to torture some animals," said Brueggan.
The vandals also apparently went into the snack area and got some beer and other goodies. They took a fire extinguisher as well.
The vandals then went through the 'Land of the crocodiles,' where endangered American crocodiles live, and sprayed the fire extinguisher at them.
"Those animals could have ingested something and we wouldn't really know anything was wrong until they just up and die," said Brueggan.
None of the animals is showing signs of sickness yet.
The director says the St. Augustine Alligator Farm has had some break-ins before, but nothing to this extent.
"I imagine the animals had an uncomfortable night where some teenagers come in here where the animals get woken up and hear things being tossed at them and biting at each other because they're nervous," said Brueggan.
St. Augustine Police hope someone will recognize the vandals on the surveillance tape and turn them in.
Call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS. You'll remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your information leads to an arrest.
Vandals Trash Alligator Farm