Reptile zoo keeper’s plea for safe return of stolen crocodile, python ‘babies’

Police are on the hunt for a thief who stole a freshwater crocodile affectionately known as Jaws Junior and two pythons from Canberra Reptile Zoo

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A crocodile affectionately known as “Jaws Junior” was among reptiles stolen from Canberra Reptile Zoo in a targeted burglary on Friday.

Zoo owner Peter Child has made an impassioned plea for the “heartless” thief to return the juvenile freshwater crocodile, as well as two pythons named “Tim Tam” and “Zebra”, after the brazen robbery was captured on CCTV.

Mr Child said Jaws Junior “would not last long” without the right care, and he wanted to remind the thief he was dealing with a “dangerous animal”.

“If he doesn’t provide the right husbandry very quickly, (Jaws) has very little chance of surviving in this kind of cold weather because crocodiles require a minimum temperature of 15C,” he said.

“Once (Jaws) warms up, he will get aggressive and start attacking him.”

While the animal is just 25cm to 30cm long now, it will grow to about 3 metres. Jaws is too young for its gender to be determined.

A crocodile named “Jaws Junior” was among reptiles stolen from Canberra Reptile Zoo on Friday.

Two staff had to go home from work due to stress over the loss of the zoo’s “babies”.

“He will never be able to sell Jaws because if anyone ever sees it they will know exactly where it came from,” Mr Child said.

“We are a not-for-profit organisation and we are all work here because we’re passionate about what we do.

“The animals are like our babies.

“It’s like someone has come into our house and stolen our pet and taken off with it.”

The CCTV footage suggests the robber came in to steal the pythons while Jaws was a “crime of opportunity”, Mr Child said.

Peter Child with a different crocodile “Charlie”.

“He ran straight for the enclosures where the pythons were and smashed straight into them and pulled them straight out,” he said.

“He’s obviously been on a visit to the zoo and seen how spectacular and friendly they are, and he has returned to take them for himself and then took the crocodile on the way out the door.

“And to add insult to injury, he stole our register computer which is what we use to do all our bookings and shows, which wasn’t cheap.”

He also stole a sound effects stereo and valuable reptile keeping products.

Mr Child’s guess is the man wanted the pythons as pets and stole them because it’s hard to get a permit to keep them in the ACT.

“The pythons were only worth $150 each so there’s no advantage to take them to resell,” he said.

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious near the zoo, or who may have dashcam footage of the zoo or surrounding area, between 7pm on Thursday, July 18, and 8.30am on Friday, July 19.

Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference 6418811. Information can be provided anonymously.