Pythons, Crocodile Stolen From Zoo, Theft Caught On Camera

A man was caught on camera stealing two snakes and a crocodile from the Canberra Reptile Zoo in Australia on Friday morning.

The incident came to light after zookeepers noticed that the three reptiles were missing when they arrived for work. Following this, the owners checked the CCTV footage which showed a man stealing the reptiles. However, it is believed that there were more people involved in the theft.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the zoo’s owner, Peter Child, said, "Our security footage shows that they were targeting some of the display animals, two of our pythons, they went straight for those. Then they came back and removed a whole lot of products just to add insult to injury, they also removed our sound effects stereo and our register computer. And in all of that they also managed to pick up a tub in the back room which was actually holding a crocodile."

Sharing the CCTV footage in a Facebook post, the zoo said, “This heartless thief broken to the Reptile Zoo and stole several items including three of our much-loved animals. The animals included jaws junior, our freshwater crocodile, Tim tam the stimpson Python and Zebra our hatchling jungle python. The thief targeted the animals specifically and also took several items needed to keep them as well as our register computer.”

Child added that the crocodile was micro-chipped so “wherever he is and whenever he turns up he'll be identified straight away.”

Child said the crocodile may not survive for long without proper care.

"None of the animals that were taken are a danger to the public, but obviously if they're not cared for correctly, they are in danger of not surviving, particularly the freshwater crocodile. This is not an animal that they can hide, it's going to turn up sooner or later," he said.

Meanwhile, police have asked anybody with information about the theft to contact them.