ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida man is facing theft charges after he tried to steal a snake from a pet store by putting it in his pants, authorities said.
Surveillance video shows the suspect reached into the snake enclosure, pull out a baby python and put it in the left front pocket of his pants.
Store owner Steve Silk said Travis Treder has been at the Saint Petersburg store at least twice before and has targeted the store's high-end snakes.
This time, employees confronted Treder.
When Treder tried to escape, employees said they blocked the front entrance, and a customer who also happened to be a security guard, jumped in to help.
They were able to zip-tie Treder until authorities arrived.
The store's owner estimates that Treder has stolen at least $1,000 worth of reptiles from the store in the past.
The baby python is estimated to cost around $150.
WPXI contributed to this report.