Pet store robbery and Daytona show

Tonight on Tampa local news Peg Vincent of Peg's exotic pet in Wesley Chapel Fl. blamed the Daytona reptile expo for her store burglary.She said that people commit pet store robberies to supply their tables tables at the show.She went on to say that she can I.D. each of her animals stolen and will be at the show looking for them.I am sorry for her loss but I do think that it gives her the right to say that venders at reptile shows of stealing to have animals to sell.This is my opinion, whats yours?

First off, I have already stated my sadness at the break-in of Pegs' store. However, if I am interpreting the text of your post correctly (as some of it makes no sense), it does NOT give her the right to go off half cocked. For several reasons. First, we do not need her adding more negative publicity to the reptile community. There is an overabundance as it is. Second, the Daytona Show is THE largest show there is. A person would have to be a real "cupcake" to sell stolen animals there. As almost everybody and their dog will be there. Which means it is a very public and very high profile setting. Most of these thieves, it would appear, prefer to move them behind the scenes. Next, why blame just the Daytona show? Why not any other show? And what makes her or her animals so special? Another point. Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't all vendors there try to make as big a showing and presentation as they can? Also, aren't most of the vendors that will be selling at Daytona more than just your average pet shop dealers? Aren't most of them some of the top breeders and dealers in the business? And isn't it true that most customers at a show of this caliber going to be shopping for far more than just your average pet shop fare? I don't know. I think Peg is out of line on this one. Put it this way. What is to stop her from seeing an animal and saying "Hey! That's MY animal. You stole it."? I am not trying to impugn her character. Merely offering a scenario. And what about the poor sucker being accused of possessing her "stolen" animal? It won't matter if he/she can prove legal ownership. That person will still have been accused of being a thief in front of everyone. Innocent or not.

Good points, John.

Dave, care to post your sources? I think that's important if you want this to stand up in the BOI. (Sorry if I was asleep when the train came through but I'm not "up" on this story.)

The notion that someone would steal a bunch of herps in Florida right before the Daytona show for the express purpose of fencing them there seems posetively ludicrous.  I think the entire CONCEPT of fencing stolen goods is to focus on goods that are not unique (and thus highly traceeable) and as well, to get rid of the goods on the black market - not at the single largest herp venue in the universe.

I'd like to see the "source" before I daw any conclusions about Peg and her possible over-reaction to being victimized, but I'd have to agree that on the surface it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

^Curtis Brown

The story and the interview was on tv at 10<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>0 pm tonight (8/7/02) on channel 13 news in Tampa .I do agree with you that her story does not hold water but that is what she said.I am sure that I was not the only person that seen it.

Peg might have been a little extreme in her comments (by singling out the Daytona show)...but, I think she was right on the mark! For all that don't know...LAST NIGHT....ANOTHER VERY WELL-KNOWN HERP SHOP in Tampa was burglarized BIG TIME, for A LOT of baby herps! The animals that were taken would only have been taken by somebody that either owned a store, or did a lot of shows! These burglaries always occur right before shows...I think she makes a very valid point! To steal that type of herp...you have to have a ready market...You're not going to steal 18 baby boas and just hang on to them to sell to your friends??
There is a group of people in the Tampa area that have hit almost every herp store in town at least once, already! One of these times, they are going to make a mistake and get caught....then, well...does fresh/killed ring a bell? ....Neil

Dave I don't think you fully understand what Peg was saying. She is really hurt by all of this. As a small store, it will take her some time to replace the items taken from her. And as you well know, a lot of these items will end up at one show or another, the problem for her will be to prove what is hers. And we all know how the cops feel about snakes! <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'> Now, Ray and I welcome the challenge of a thief trying to break into our place. One thing is for sure, the herp world will have a few less thieves to worry about.

I do understand what the break-in has done to her and how it will take her months to make up the loss.I just do like how she stated it as fact that the shows are the reasons behind the robberies.I do feel sorry for her and I do hope that she makes a quick recovery.

It seems like, if she honestly believed that her stolen reptiles were going to be at the show, on display, and that she could identify them, then she made a mistake posting it here. She may have ruined a chance to catch them. If it is true, I hope that they do not watch the news.

I don't know how remarkable she believes a half dozen baby boas to be, but in a room with several thousand there is no way that anyone could ID them. Evan Stahl

Neil,
Who's store in Tampa was burglarized last night?

Dennis Gulla