Curiosity
Thief steals alligator by stuffing it up t-shirt (PHOTO)
WVNSTV.COM
“Every business has to deal with shoplifting, but I would just would not expect an alligator to be shoplifted,”
A man in West Virginia stole a baby alligator, worth $300, last week. The alligator was reported missing when Beckley pet store employees could not find the animal during its feeding time on 16 July. The employees say they thought the alligator was hiding behind rocks, but after a thorough search of the store they were left dumbfounded by their missing reptile.
‘I looked everywhere, he was no where to be found,’ said store Anothy Williams.
The mystery would soon be solved as the surveillance footage was reviewed. A video shows a man in a green shirt sticking the three month old alligator under his shirt. It also appears the man had an accomplice who distracted a female store employee in order to complete the reptile heist.
The suspect is said to be a regular customer at Beckley pet store who owns an adult alligator. The allure of stealing the juvenile alligator may be the new West Virginia law, which stipulates that owners need a permit to own exotic animals that pose a threat to the general population.
The pet store has yet to see the return of the alligator, but employees can only assume that the thief must have made off with more than just the reptile, they suspect he was given a scratch or two and perhaps some bite marks. Although the alligator has not yet been returned, Beckley employees are confident that the pet will be returned.
‘Doesn’t seem like the safest thing to do,’ Mr Williams said. ‘Every business has to deal with shoplifting, but I would just would not expect an alligator to be shoplifted.’
The reptile could eventually grow to 16 feet in length, reports WVNSTV.
Snapped up: The man in the white T-shirt, top left, allegedly distracted the sales assistant while the man in the green T-shirt grabbed the alligator from its tank, put it under his shirt and headed out of the door
On The Web:
Man steals baby alligator from pet store by smuggling it out under his shirt … but staff say he was probably bitten on way out
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2375400/Thief-steals-alligator-stuffing-t-shirt-West-Virginia-pet-shop.html
Shoplifter steals baby alligator after hiding it under his shirt
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/shoplifter-hides-baby-alligator-shirt-article-1.1407378
Caught on tape: Man walks out of Beckley pet store with alligator
http://www.wvnstv.com/story/22879332/caught-on-tape-man-walks-out-of-beckley-pet-store-with-alligator