Pet store robbery and Daytona show

Evan....Therein lies the problem! Unless your snake (or lizard) has an obvious scar, birth defect, or has been micro-chipped (and have pictures to prove it)....it's impossible to tell one snake or lizard from another! This is why the cops don't bust their butts trying to find them. They've got to be caught IN THE ACT! Or, have a tape recorder that they CAN'T find! Nobody gets away with it forever! But, for now....you folks out there better take warning about what's been happening in the Tampa area! I'm sure there are those in YOUR area that have been following these antics and seeing that nobody is being caught....it's just a matter of time before they try to hit YOU! Lock it, alarm it, motion detector it, razor-wire it, guard dog it, do anything you have to to keep them OUT! Once they get in...it's all over...as the folks at the place that was hit the other night can well attest to! That's the real tragic part of this because those guys didn't have to get hit at all, if they had just alarmed everything after they saw what's been happening around here....it's really a shame, and it's about time we did something about this! What? I don't know! But, I'll sure listen! ....Neil


If someone can come up with a "micro-battery-powered micro-chip" that can be harmlessly inserted under the skin....they'd make a fortune! One that when your snake is stolen, you flip a switch, and your hand-held antennae goes, ...beep, beep, beep,....your snake's over there! I really don't see why that can't be done in this day and age!

Neil, I'm sure that what your are discribing (animal lo-jac sp?) is possible, however, think of the cost! It would probably cost a couple of hundred dollars per animal. Not possible, unless every animal your dealing with is over a $1000.

Dennis Gulla

Dennis...I'm SURE it will cost a couple of bucks the "first" time, because the hand-held unit will be where the money is...but, after that....how much is it to micro-chip an animal now? $35-50? How much extra do you think it would be with a one-year micro-battery in it? Not much more, I'm sure...and, it would be like computers...when they first came out, they were $thousands, now, they're like $700....same thing...I really think it can be done to where it would be cost effective for someone that has "more than one" valuable animal (for sale or not)....if nothing else...it would certainly give you peace of mind? ....Neil

I think that her blaming the show is absolutely ridiculous.  The show did not steal her snakes, a PERSON(s) did.  If these people are out there stealing snakes regularly from pet shops, something tells me they wouldn't have a table at Expo anyway.  I think that she is way off base here.  
For one, she just told the thieves where she would be looking for the snakes, so why in the heck would they try to be selling them there?  They know that someone will be on the lookout at the Expo.  
As far as her identifying the snakes...GOOD LUCK!!!  There will be thousands of baby boas there.  Are you just going to go to every table and say, "OH!  That is MY boa that was stolen!  Give it to me!"  I know for a fact I would have trouble remembering exactly what my snake looked like when faced with going through thousands at one time(unless there was something that really stood out like a scar or something).  And quite honestly, I highly doubt that ANY vendor is going to just let you pilfer through their animals to possibly find your missing ones, and then let you walk off with them when you think you found them.  And you can't just walk around Expo accusing random vendors of stealing snakes.  Unless you have proof(very doubtful), you will probably be ejected from the show rather quickly.  
It sucks that you were robbed, but how many animals WERE taken?  6 boas?!  You are going to defame the reputation of the largest reptile show in the world AND add more bad press about herp keepers(not only are we irresponsible, but now we are thieves as well, thanks!)over six boas?!  I know being robbed is horrible and I feel for you, but those are VERY easily replaced animals.  
And as far as stolen animals being sold at shows, I know it happens. &nbsp;But it is mainly associated with the smaller shows in my experience. &nbsp;Heck, I was a local show here where one vendor stole snakes off of another vendor's table, and put them on his table for sale the same day without even switching he price tags! &nbsp;Talk about brass ones <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'> &nbsp; But I doubt that this kind of behavior is common at the larger shows like Daytona.

Animals of all kinds including snakes can be microchipped. &nbsp;The chips won't help you locate the animal, but once you find it you can prove ownership. &nbsp;All vets and most animal shelters/pounds have a scanner. &nbsp;I believe the cost is less than $100 for the chip. &nbsp;There was a story on the news this morning about a dog that was missing for 5 years, it was returned to it's owner because of the chip.

Blaming shows for theft is ridiculous. &nbsp;Thieves cause theft, period. &nbsp;When are the people in this industry going to realize that if they don't shut their stupid-a$$ mouths and quit giving the media fuel for the reptile banning fire, we are going to lose our rights to own these wonderful animals. &nbsp;WAKE-UP people the only thing we want on the news is positive experiences involving reptiles. &nbsp;And maybe if we're luckly, the person talking about the reptiles will have teeth, a shirt, and a hairstyle that doesn't involve the word "mullet."

I was going to say what Brian did - about there already being rice-pellet sized devices used to tag cats and dogs (and certainly other animals too...) They are some form of passive radio transmistter or such (like the anti-theft tags insicee CDs and DVDs) so they don't need batteries or anything. They are cheap in bulk, and while probably more expensive than a shotgun or alarm system I doubt you'd need your babies to be worth $1000.00 each to justify using it if you felt it might be worthwhile.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Blaming shows for theft is ridiculous. &nbsp;Thieves cause theft, period. &nbsp;When are the people in this industry going to realize that if they don't shut their stupid-a$$ mouths and quit giving the media fuel for the reptile banning fire, we are going to lose our rights to own these wonderful animals. &nbsp;WAKE-UP people the only thing we want on the news is positive experiences involving reptiles. &nbsp;And maybe if we're luckly, the person talking about the reptiles will have teeth, a shirt, and a hairstyle that doesn't involve the word "mullet."</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Ouch! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

oops - FYI my full name (for the above post) is

^Curtis Brown

Hi everyone,

As pertaining to the microchipping the herps , its easy and not
that expensive. Probably the formost supplier would be "Avidchip". You can got to www.avidchip.com to order the
following:

Bulk microchips (size of a grain of rice)-6.25 - 6.95 ea
Bulk syringe(SP?)(can be re-used)-7.50 ea
scanners from 200$-1025$ea
sign to put in your store window stating all animals are
microchipped - 21$.

Seems like a minimal investment considering what it could prevent or recover in reguards to theft.

Hope this helps
God Bless!!!
Ben Sparks
Christian Reptile Center
Tahlequah, OK <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Further more I just wanted to add that I know it may seem
alot for the scanner but if a couple of shop owners all went in on it together and they all used the same chips it would probably save some $$. You will also be able to advertized said
animals as being microchipped which is a great bonus to some
buyers. With the scanner you just have to "wave"it over the
animal and check the ID# that comes up, if you needed to at
a show or something to locate stolen animals.

Anyway, thats my .02 cents
God Bless <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
Ben Sparks

Okay I think everybody is missing the point.For the last 3 years there has been many places robbed.All around august.WE have all heard the stories-rumors-B.S about what happens at the shows with the stealing with customers-dealers.The reality of it all is the{BIG}Show is at the same time.That is what the story was all about.As for knowing which snakes are yours and are not well pictures and D.N.A can prove that so can scale clipping.Before everyone gets in an uproar I think we should all look at the source of this blaming topic.If I recall correctly the person who is throwing the blame for making reptile shows get a bad reputation is the one who makes headlines in the paper for stealing reptiles.{I know not guilty}