Snakes Incorporated

[Snakes Incorporated]

Reptile raid     
By Diana Henderson

A TROPICAL fish shop owner was "sick to his stomach" when he arrived at his Bournemouth premises to find all his snakes and lizards gone.

Rod Norris, who runs Tropical Fish World in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, lost £3,500 worth of reptiles in an overnight raid some time between Friday night and Saturday morning.

Police believe the creatures could have been stolen to order.

Burglars smashed through the ceiling to get into the shop, where they made off with between 12 and 15 snakes and four bearded dragons.

"The vivariums had padlocks on them and they smashed the glass doors to get them out," said Mr Norris.

"Looking at the type of animals they have stolen, I believe they knew exactly what they were looking for and I don't have any concerns that they wouldn't be looked after properly.

"There were other items here that would fetch a far higher value than what was taken."

This was the second time in four to five weeks that his shop has been targeted, with a snake and a lizard stolen last time.

The haul this time included a breeding pair and two male lizards around three feet long and two of the snakes, which included a rock python and Thai beauty snake, were eight feet in length.

The burglars also raided the till but left 125 fish tanks full of fish and expensive equipment on the shelves.

"They were disturbed," said Mr Norris, who has had the shop there for 18 months. He said some of the reptiles had been sold and he would now have to replace them.

"All the wholesalers and reptile shops in the area have been notified to contact me if any animals are offered to them," he said.

Mr Norris is offering a reward to anyone who assists in the recovery of the reptiles.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "It appears that this could have been done by someone stealing to order or stealing for themselves. It is quite a collection.

"We are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact us on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."

9:36am today

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.1097840.0.reptile_raid.php
 

[tazzyb]

that terrible

My friend owns a pet shop in North wales and he was burgled a couple of times for the parrots. He know keeps two of his american bull dogs there and last year someone broke in and then complained to the police because the dogs attacked him!!!!

[Simon]

Some people are idiots.... You can never win these days.  How can laws be written to protect your house, properties, businesses, families and yet something like this can be considered justified!

[tazzyb]

God only knows the bloke was pushing for the police to order the dogs being put down. They did alot of damage put they where protecting property and he broke in!!!!! In the end after much toing anf froing. They had to drop charges for him breaking in and pay for repairs themselves to get him to drop the complaint about the dogs.

[Autoshoty]

Thats horrable. I just don't get why people do things like that to innocent shop owners. Too bad there was no cameras.