Three of four snakes stolen in a pair of pet store burglaries were recovered by police today in Centennial.
No arrests have been made but Arapahoe Sheriff Grayson Robinson said police recovered the snakes at a suspect’s Centennial home early this morning. The man is now in custody on unrelated charges, officials say.
Robinson said authorities think two of the snakes were stolen from a PetSmart late last week when two suspects were caught on a surveillance camera. Police are still searching for the second suspect.
Police were waiting for today’s suspect at his home after an albino snake was stolen from the Scales and Tails pet store in Englewood in an apparent burglary early this morning.
The albino snake was found on the floor in front of the passenger seat of the suspect’s car when he pulled up in front of the house at about 1:30 a.m.
Arapahoe deputies then searched the house and found two ball pythons identified as the two taken from PetSmart. All three snakes have been returned to the stores.
A fourth snake was also found in the house, but Robinson said police can’t yet determine if it’s stolen.
According to police, the pet store window was smashed using a rock, just like during Saturday’s burglary at a PetSmart in Centennial.
“We believe they are related. The suspects used similar methods of operations in both incidences,” Robinson said.
Arapahoe deputies had tracked a license plate number given to Englewood Police from a witness who reportedly saw a car leaving Scales and Tails around 1 a.m. today.
“As soon as we communicated with Englewood Police we had officers in front of his house waiting for his return,” Robinson said.
Robinson said Arapahoe and Englewood police are still investigating a motive for the thefts.
Anthony Bowe 303-954-1661 or abowe@denverpost.com
