Stolen Ball Python Collection: REWARD

[Tim_Cranwill]

Jeff Houston’s high end Ball Python collection was stolen from his house this past week. A terrible story that I hope has a happy ending.

Here's a link to the page The Snake Keepers have put up to collect pledges for a reward...

http://ballpython.com/page.php?topic=reward

And a few more bits of information....
http://forums.**kingsnake**.com/view.php?id=333841,333841

http://forums.**kingsnake**.com/view.php?id=334422,334422

http://forums.**kingsnake**.com/view.php?id=334740,334740

*****Take out the **'s before and after the word "kingsnake".*****

[SerpentLust]

Oh wow, to be honest, I thought you were joking! Like the link would show that you took his kick a$$ snakes! Wow, I'm completely speechless...

[marisa]

Just sick.

Stealing or being a theif is the lowest, dirtiest, most dishonest and bum like form of crime a person can commit. Such a shame. I hope this guy is found and hopefully (as bad as this sounds) they were higher end snakes instead of hets so they can be more easily identified.

Marisa

[Tim_Cranwill]

He had Pieds, Mojaves and a bunch of other valuable snakes. :(

A real shame...

[marisa]

Well hopefully he has photos as you'd think the pieds especially can be somewhat easily ID'd....

But I hope even more that someone finds this guy and makes sure he is not only punished, but never again can do any form of business in the hobby.

Marisa

[Big_V]

Thats absolutely terrible. Hopefully they will turn up and the person will get thrown in jail. Its a terrible circumstance and lets hope all the animals turn up.

[Oliverian]

I donated $15. Hey, I know it's not much, but i'm still a student with not a lot of cash right now. It's definitely worth it if they can catch the loser who did this. I hope you all consider donating as well. It's one of our fellow herpers, we need to at least try!

Come on, I know you can afford it. Even if it's only $5, every little bit will help. Go on!

-TammyR

[Cruciform]

For those looking for some cheap security, pick up a couple of logitech webcams.

Set up a server in an isolated and locked down part of the house (or even better, have a friend store your video repository at his house, and set up a secure tunnel via SSH).

Have the machine with the webcam hooked up to it back up all video files to the remote server.

If you get intruders, you may not be able to stop them but the chances of recovery are greater. Not a lot of B&E jackasses wear disguises.

(also if you set up remote desktop software you can check on your house and herp room from remote locations)

---
Something to recommend against:

Wireless camera systems. If you have a wireless nanny cam or are considering purchasing one, make sure that it uses an encrypted signal. Those X10 cameras you see advertised in pop-ups broadcast in the 2.4 GHz range, and can easily be monitored from the street with an equipped laptop. Makes it great for thieves who want to make sure there's nobody in the house.

Don't put labels on the windows that say you have a camera system. Only refer to an alarm system. No need to tip off thieves to wear masks.



If anyone is thinking about setting up some inexpensive DIY home security and needs advice or tips to find software just ask :)


--edited for typo--

[Auskan]

Originally posted by Cruciform
If you get intruders, you may not be able to stop them but the chances of recovery are greater. Not a lot of B&E jackasses wear disguises.



Seems to me that in order to know that such a collection exists, it is probably someone who is known to the owner of the collection. Therefore, the pics will lead directly to recovery. It seems unlikely that a regular burglar looking for re-saleable items (like jewellery/electronic equipment), would knock off a collection of valuable reptiles (might not even recognize their value). But I could be wrong...

[Cruciform]

I wouldn't be surprised if there are thieves who scan the forums here and at Fauna regularly looking for marks. Someone with a sizeable, quality collection run out of a residential address. With pictures of rack layouts, breeders, and mapquest, a person could do some serious damage.

[Siretsap]

Well anyhow, who ever stole the reptiles knew what he wanted. And from what I am guessing, those snakes won't be sold to anyone, it is a circle of thieves who must of planned it. Chances are we will never see the snakes again but will have a lot of people selling some hets and even some babies in the coming years.... Might help if we all ask to see pics of the parents before we buy any hets or anything.

[chas*e]

Wow, that is so sad.....I worry about someone doing the same to me...I would just freak.....sorry to hear about this.

[emroul]

People like that don't make any sense to me. I wonder what this thief plans on doing with this collection of high dollar animals. He can't POSSIBLY think he is going to be able to sell them and get "fast money". Hmm, the only people that would be interested in a high dollar animal like that is to post them for sale on KS or fauna or here, then all Jeff Houston has to do is see the ad's and say "Wow, that looks alot like the Piebald that got STOLEN from me". Or, if he plans on breeding them to sell the unidentifyable babies, I hope he knows what he's doing. Breeding and getting successful clutches are harder than people (especially like that) portray it to be. :rolleyes:

People like that are just a worthless part of this world. It's a real shame. :mad:

He'll get caught, I just know it. It's hard, but not impossible, to track animals like that down. I wonder if the animals were microchipped?

Jennifer

[elevation24]

Wow. What a horrible thing to come home to :( I really hope they find the culprits. I've pledged what I can afford and when my dad gets home tomorrow I will ask him to make a pledge as well, in addition to asking a few friends.

[V.hb]

thats really a shame.. thankfully i have the ultimate security guard, a 130lb rottweiller.

[Siretsap]

that and a nagging wife, nothing beats that ;-)
just joking, but it's true a dog will tend to restrain more thieves than a logo in a window.

[V.hb]

restrain? haha id be afraid to see what my dog would do under bad circumstances!!

[ChaosCat]

Read about that on some of the other boards. That really sucks. Our house was being "watched" last year-found evidence outside the snake room window consisting of a pile of cigarette butts and broken lawn ornaments (as well as stake-lights missing) and promptly acquired an alarm system a few days later. No problems so far.....

I figure it was probably someone who knew him-or someone he "mentioned" the snakes to. This is why if you own something expensive, you don't mention it to anyone. Just not worth the bragging rights anymore.

-cat

[marisa]

I don't even mention my corn snakes to people.

You have two groups of reptile thieves in my opinion. High dollar theives like these, and cheap kids who want to steal something. Good example...a year before adopting my Green Iguana, someone broke into the owners home, rolled her into a carpet and stole her. I mean, you cannot even pay someone to TAKE an iguana yet this kid stole one because of the "popularity" value amougst his friends.

That is why no one except my close friends, family members and select people who bought from me last year, know what I keep. Everything is normally in one room with a locked door. It could be corns or 50,000 balls. Someone always wants to steal something.

Marisa

[MouseKilla]

Stealing an iguana is funny for sure but not as funny as a story I heard about someone having their pitbull stolen. I mean how stupid can you be? Ever hear of the Humane Society? Another animal you can't pay someone to take if you want rid of it. I mean can you even call the cops when someone steals something that will certainly cost more money than you could ever hope to sell it for? At least in the case of the stolen high-end BPs they showed a little ambition. Still sucks for the poor SOB that had his stuff stolen though.

[Lisa]

my folks insurance agent said a dog is probably the best deterent.

my friend left his rottie in his car while he was @ the dr some one tried to reach in the sunroof and take the sterio. they left their watch behind. I had 2 of the sons from that dog. never had to worry about being robbed with those two around. most defensive and loyal dogs i've ever had. They were not all bark and no bite like other dogs i've had, but they were totally cool with people if i said they were ok. couldn't give them regular dog toys though they were a waste of $, they chewed on tires instead.

[Dozer]

rotties are a tough breed, we had a 120 pound female, she was a really great dog... when our house got robbed, she let the theif in, but he couldn't get out, we were rentin' out the top floor of our house and one of the people who lived upstairs called the cops and the cops walked in on the theif a few minutes later. she unfortunately died due to cancer at the age of 8 but she'll never be forgotten.

Back to the topic of snake theft... I would definetely say it was someone you knew or knew what oyu had in da house. If you found normal females lying around and yet everythin' else was taken, then someone knew what they were doin' for sure. i dont know who this guy is who got robbed, but i would run a finger print check on everyone i could possibly find in that area who owns reptiles. however, a robbery like this could drive a person to come from a distance due to the type of aniamsl stolen. so whether its a local theif or out of town folk, its hard to say.

best of luck on catchin' the theif or theives.

[C_Ellenzweig]

Damn right... Dogs are the BEST deterrant! Nobody wants to deal with the sharp end of a Rottie!

[TheRedDragon]

OMG, that is HORRIBLE. :( I really hope that they find the @ssholes that stole those snakes. If I ever got my hands on one of those thieves, I'd be sure that they'd never steal anything again...let alone walk... :mad:

[snakebeginner]

If I was the person that lost all my snakes cause of that useless theif and if I caught him I would smash his face in and then take him to the cops. i hope he gets them back or I hope they at least catch that useless peice of *****......sorry I just hate theives

[meow_mix450]

Thats just sick, come on, someone stealing snakes, dogs reptiles.....wow thats sad, they cant even make 50 bucks and get a iguna, pretty sad, and must go steal one......thats just low

This person knew what he was doing, if he didnt take that 1000 bucks, and digi cam, then he was just looking for one thing. the snakes, he must have known the guy

Meow

[Soul_Reaper]

Holy sh*t...that just plain sucks. I hope he finds the ******* and puts him behind the bars where he belongs.

[Jungle Jen]

I agree that it definately sounds like the person(s) who stole the snakes knew the collection. It seems you can't trust anyone these days. I may not have a big high end collection, but nobody would leave my house alive after my 120lb Bullmastiff, German Shep, and 2 other dogs got through with them. I just hope Jeff gets his collection back and the theif(s) get reprimanded. (I'm sure I am not alone when I say I could think of a few ways to teach them their lesson) ;)