New appeal over stolen spiders, snakes

By Megan Levy
Updated November 5 2012 - 7:55pm, first published March 5 2009 - 1:44am
X-ray of reptiles allegedly concealed in airport baggage last week. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
X-ray of reptiles allegedly concealed in airport baggage last week. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Lizards allegedly found in airport baggage. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Lizards allegedly found in airport baggage. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Lizard concealed in a sock. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Lizard concealed in a sock. Picure: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Police have renewed their appeal for information after the theft of a large number of exotic animals from a warehouse on the Far South Coast.Rare pythons, spiders, possums and turtles were among the animals stolen from the warehouse on Arthur Kaine Dr at Merimbula late last month.Police said the thieves removed the window from the commercial site and broke into the premises between February 21 and 23.

  • Full list of exotic animals stolen in Merimbula The stolen animals were breeding stock being kept at the warehouse, police said.Among the animals stolen were an albino Tasmanian brushtail possum, Tasmanian bettongs, an albino pig nose turtle, a diamond python, and an adult desert bird eating spider.Detectives said they were examining links between the break-in and a seizure of rare animals at Sydney Airport last month.A 24-year-old Sydney man was arrested at the airport after customs officers allegedly detected live animals on an X-ray machine before the man's flight to Bangkok.Customs officers allegedly opened the man's bags and found 24 shingleback lizards, 16 bluetongue lizards and three endangered black headed pythons concealed in socks and cloth bags.The total reptile haul was worth up to $200,000 on the black market, customs said.The man was charged with trying to export native species without a permit and will face a Sydney court on March 24.Specialist forensics police examined the Merimbula warehouse for evidence, and detectives are now appealing for information from the public about the theft.Anyone who has information can contact Merimbula Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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