Snake shocks shoppers at NSW Woolworths as it emerges from spice shelf

An unexpected intruder somehow managed to negotiate its way into the Glenorie Wooolworths store in NSW, where it stunned customers.

A cheeky snake has shocked shoppers inside a Woolworths after it emerged nonchalantly from the store’s spice shelf.

The intruder was filmed by a customer in the Glenorie Woolworths, northwest of Sydney, on Monday as it shimmied its body part-way out of the rack.

It is not known how long the reptile had been in the store, or how it managed to get in.

Its behaviour was jokingly condemned in a post to Facebook where it was blasted for not complying with Covid-safe rules.

A snake was spotted inside the Glenorie Woolworths on Monday. Picture: Facebook

“Local Glenorie Woolworths had a lockdown offender today. No QR check in and no mask,” the woman who shared the video wrote.

After undoubtedly startling a few passers-by, she said the snake was safely removed from the store.

“Lucky there was a lovely person who was very familiar with this type of species and safely looked after the good-looking culprit,” she wrote.

Others said they would not have had such a relaxed approach if they encountered the trespasser.

“Geez! What a shock that would be coming at you! So unexpected,” one person wrote in a comment.

“OMG I hate snakes would have taken everybody out with me as I ran for the exit,” another said.

“Yikes! I would have had a heart attack at that,” a third wrote.

Woolworths said the matter was dealt with “quickly and calmly”.

“A slippery and rare customer was spotted in the spice aisle of our Glenorie store yesterday morning,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Once it was sighted, our team members reacted quickly and calmly to cordon off the area for the safety of customers.

“A snake catcher removed the slithery customer, who was released safely into bushland shortly after.”