Snakes stolen from Polish zoo

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CHORZOW, Poland, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Officials at a Polish zoo said a thief jumped over a wall and stole a pair of royal pythons from the facility.

Jolanta Kopiec, director of the Chorzow zoo, said the New Year's thief was recorded by security cameras hopping over a wall during the post-midnight fireworks, Polskie Radio/Polish Press Agency reported Thursday.

"The thief made use of the din of firecrackers and fireworks, so that the breaking of glass wasn't noticed by anyone," Kopiec said.

She said officials didn't notice until the morning that the terrarium had been broken into and two royal pythons were missing.

Kopiec said the theft could have been dangerous for the snakes.

"Removing snakes from a terrarium that is over 25 degrees Celsius and carrying them into a yard where the temperature is around zero degrees could end badly for the animals," she said.