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Thief steals snake from Coventry pet shop

POLICE want to find a slippery customer after a snake was stolen from a Coventry shop.

An 18ins carpet python was swiped from a hatch at Coventry Aquatics in Daventry Road, Cheylesmore.

It is understood the snake, which is native to Australia and New Guinea, was popped into a carrier bag and carried out of the store, while staff were distracted by a group of youngsters.

The incident took place between 3.45pm and 4.30pm on Wednesday, March 9. The snake is not venomous but can grow up to two metres when kept in captivity. Staff noticed the animal was missing as they followed their feeding and watering regime the following morning.

After checking the snake hadn’t been sold, staff reviewed the CCTV footage. Managing director Robin Hopkins explained security at the city shop has since been tightened.

He said: “We are now having to put locks on all of our hatches. People will have to ask a member of staff if they want to view an animal. They will then be taken to a separate room where they will be able to handle the animal in a closed environment. They will not be able to go into the hatches freely.”

Further items are also believed to have been taken off the shelves during the incident, as well as the snake, which is worth £100.

The snake was taken from a hatch which had a further 12 snakes inside.

Mr Hopkins added that the snake may also be in danger if it is not cared for in the correct manner. He said: “The snake needs to be in the right conditions, under UV lights and in the right sized environment.

“Because of the way they got the snake, they would not have the knowledge from us about when the animal was last fed.

“This means the snake may not feed immediately, they may start to worry, and try to force feed it which could mean there are immediate problems.”

Police are investigating the theft and are keen to hear from two boys and a girl seen in the shop on CCTV footage from the time of the incident.
www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/03/16/thief-steals-snake-from-coventry-pet-shop-92746-28346579/2/

"“The snake needs to be in the right conditions, under UV lights and in the right sized environment."

Really?

It's a shame and I hope they get the kids but the care requirements did go overboard.
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Tim Cole
www.austinherpsociety.org
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
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Conservation through Education

And here I thought snakes stayed the same size as their enclosures. Silly me....

I was responding to this by the way:

“The snake needs to be in the right conditions, under UV lights and in the right sized environment."

"The snake is not venomous but can grow up to two metres ..."

Love the inflammatory language here that implies a non-venomous snake that can grow up 6 feet long is dangerous. Gotta love snake hysteria/phobia.

Can you imagine if people used the same standards/reasoning (or lack thereof) of danger for dogs? They'd be demanding the President declare martial law and the immediate extermination of every pooch on the planet.