The curious 事例／患者 of the 行方不明の menagerie: A crocodile, 50 snakes and bearded dragons snatched in 'tenacious' （警察の）手入れ，急襲 on pet shop

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 13:10 BST, 4 January 2012

What could be Britain's most daring thieves were last night on the run from police after around 100 exotic animals - 含むing a 5ft crocodile - were swiped in a pet shop （警察の）手入れ，急襲.

The dwarf caiman crocodile was part of a 運ぶ／漁獲高 含むing dozens of snakes and lizards snatched from Stockport Pet 倉庫／問屋 in Heaviley, Greater Manchester.

Officers are now 追跡（する）ing the 行方不明の menagerie and have 警告するd the thieves they could be 危険ing life and 四肢 trying to 扱う the stolen predator.

'Gutted': Stockport Pet 倉庫／問屋 owners John Bibby, left, and Paul Williamson 恐れる for their animals safety if they are not cared for 適切に

The owners of the shop, Jon Bibby, 40, and Paul Williamson, 45, are also 関心d about the stolen animals who, they 恐れる, may not 生き残る if not cared for 適切に.

Mr Williamson said: 'There have been about 100 animals taken, the most dangerous 存在 the crocodile, but also about 50 snakes, some of which are five to six foot.'

Around 40 lizards, 含むing geckos and bearded dragons, were also stolen, he 追加するd.

'We can 明白に 取って代わる these, but they also took two birds, a cockatoo and a parakeet, which we were caring for while 顧客s were on holiday,' Mr Williamson said.

'They had taught the cockatoo to talk and that is not something that can be 取って代わるd. It will be 破滅的な for them.'

Exotic: The pilfered pets 含むd geckos, like this small green one seen scurrying across a white board...

... 同様に as bearded dragon lizards like this one sticking out his tongue in 準備 to snatch its prey

THE WORLD'S SMALLEST KNOWN CROCS: DWARF CAIMAN FACTS

The Cuvier's dwarf caiman is the smallest known 種類 of crocodilian reptile, with a total length of up to 5.2ft in males and typically up to 4ft in 女性（の）s.

あられ／賞賛するing from northern and central South America, the nocturnal dwarf caimans live 近づく 急速な／放蕩な stretches of stream, using burrows as 避難所 during the day.

While young, they おもに eat invertebrates like 熱帯の insects and freshwater molluscs, broadening their diet to 含む fish as they 円熟した.

However, like all crocodiles, they still have ひどく powerful jaws and sharp teeth, 有能な of 割れ目ing the 爆撃するs of their prey and ripping flesh and bone.

Mr Williamson, who has run the 蓄える／店 on Hallam Street, Heaviley, with his friend for five years, 恐れるd the animals may have been stolen to order. He 追加するd: 'It is winter and the reptiles need specialised care. Without this, they will not last very long.'??

Thieves 粉砕するd their way into the shop through the shutters. Once inside they broke into 安全な・保証する, caged areas where the dangerous creatures were kept, opened up their 戦車／タンクs and took them away.

The owners say their 商売／仕事 will be 貿易（する）ing as normal にもかかわらず the 後退. Mr Williamson said: 'We are gutted. It is not a 広大な／多数の／重要な start to the new year, but we have got to stay 肯定的な. We will clean up and open up as usual.'?

Mr Bibby, who has been in the pet 貿易（する） for 25 years, said: 'The crocodile is a wild animal.

'It is dangerous, it is not something that you should 扱う, along with the other reptiles.'?

Police have 控訴，上告d for anyone with （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） to get in touch. 探偵，刑事 Sergeant David Jordan said: 'Should anyone come across these animals they should take care and 知らせる the 当局 すぐに.?

'We are 控訴，上告ing to anyone with （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, and indeed to anyone who may know who is behind this very tenacious 押し込み強盗.?

'The 違反者／犯罪者s must have used 器具／実施するs to 軍隊 their way in and the animals themselves have a very high 通貨の value.'