Thief with python in pants 'lucky it wasn't feeding day'

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The manager of an Oregon pet store says a thief caught on camera shoving a python down his pants was "lucky it wasn't feeding day."

Christin Bjugan, manager of A to Z Pets in Portland, said a 2-foot-long black pastel ball python was noticed missing Friday, so she spent Saturday pouring over security camera footage to identify the culprit.

"There's cameras everywhere -- and you'd think that people would see them," Bjugan told KPTV.

She said the security footage shows a man taking the $200 snake out of its cage. He then "put it in his pants -- yuck," she said. "Just drops it right in the front."

Bjugan said the man then waddled out of the store while "trying to act like there's not a snake in his pants."

"He's lucky it wasn't feeding day. Feeding days are on Mondays. And they're very hungry," she said.

Bjugan said the man was accompanied by a blue-haired female accomplice.

"Anytime anything like this happens, it's very frustrating. We work very hard to make a living and run the business," she said.