Zoo Supply
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Today we wrapped up a 2 month investigation into some animals that were stolen from the Marion Nature Park, in Belleview Florida.
Zane Neher, a zookeeping student at the Nature Park, Stole a green tree python, as well as 4 sulcata tortoise hatchlings, and possibly a leopard tortoise hatchling. Two months ago a GTP came up missing that I was sending out to A customer in California. Two days afterwards he asked me how much it was worth. Around a month and a half ago a Leopard tortoise came up missing. And last sunday 4 baby sulcatas came up missing. Zane was in class each of the three days that things came up missing. After last sunday's theft, at 108 AM Zane posted an adult male GTP and four sulcatas for sale here on FaunaClassifieds. Richie Z was notified immediately upon me finding the ads, and backups were made, a subsequent search of the internet also turned up an ad on turtletimes for the same animals.
Once the police were called, I called on a few friends, namely Scott axel, and Chris Johnson of Top Shelf Exotics and Joe Spoto of Ocala Reptiles to contact Zane, below is a reply by Zane when asked about the animals by Joe:
Good day.
Currently, I only have the sulcatas and Aru. My collection resides in Oklahoma and I don't keep in touch too often due to a busy schedual.
Where is your store located? I live in Ocala as well and would love to check it out.
If you would like, I could swing by today or Wendsday and show you the Sulcatas. I have the Aru in Melbourne, Fl which is where I stay during the weekends but I could bring it up by next Monday.
Also, if you would like I do get things coming through me from time to time, I could let ya know what I come acrossed.
Thanks,
Zane
When asked by Scott where the animals came from, this is the response:
Thanks.
The Aru is C.B. He was born at the Silver Springs Wildlife Park in Ocala Fl 3-4 yrs back
Zane
Now the good part, today when the cop came here, Zane was asked where he got the GTP at. His response was that he got it from Oklahoma. In front of the cop I said that is funny because I have an email forwarded to me from Ohio that says you got it at Silver Springs.
I worked at silver springs during the time that his email says it was born there, and we had no GTP's whatsoever. Zane had already admitted he stole the sulcatas. This is when he caved in and admitted guilt in all the animals.
I really do not want Zane to rot away in jail, I really would rather not see him get a felony offense. That stuff sticks with you forever. However, what lesson is learned if you are constantly let off the hook.
I would really like to thank Rich Z. for his help, also Chris at Topshelf exotics, Scott Axel, Joe at Ocala Reptile, and especially Krystal, who has stuck with me trying to get this male aru back so I can ship it to her. She has been extremely patient in a screwed up situation. I applaud her for sticking with me, she is an example of a customer that I hope to have for a lifetime.
As for Zane, I truly am sorry that it had to come to this. If he just came to me and told me that he was having money problems, I would have done whatever I could to help him.
As for any doubts on this, he gave a tape recorded confession in the patrol car before they left here, and he now has a trespassing warning for our property.
Hope I have given enough proof to anyone that reads this about what happened. I do have a case number and such.
Anyways once again, thank you faunaclassifieds, I definately wouldn't have been able to catch him without your classifieds section, and I wouldn't have been able to post this without the BOI.
Take care all,
TOM
Zane Neher, a zookeeping student at the Nature Park, Stole a green tree python, as well as 4 sulcata tortoise hatchlings, and possibly a leopard tortoise hatchling. Two months ago a GTP came up missing that I was sending out to A customer in California. Two days afterwards he asked me how much it was worth. Around a month and a half ago a Leopard tortoise came up missing. And last sunday 4 baby sulcatas came up missing. Zane was in class each of the three days that things came up missing. After last sunday's theft, at 108 AM Zane posted an adult male GTP and four sulcatas for sale here on FaunaClassifieds. Richie Z was notified immediately upon me finding the ads, and backups were made, a subsequent search of the internet also turned up an ad on turtletimes for the same animals.
Once the police were called, I called on a few friends, namely Scott axel, and Chris Johnson of Top Shelf Exotics and Joe Spoto of Ocala Reptiles to contact Zane, below is a reply by Zane when asked about the animals by Joe:
Good day.
Currently, I only have the sulcatas and Aru. My collection resides in Oklahoma and I don't keep in touch too often due to a busy schedual.
Where is your store located? I live in Ocala as well and would love to check it out.
If you would like, I could swing by today or Wendsday and show you the Sulcatas. I have the Aru in Melbourne, Fl which is where I stay during the weekends but I could bring it up by next Monday.
Also, if you would like I do get things coming through me from time to time, I could let ya know what I come acrossed.
Thanks,
Zane
When asked by Scott where the animals came from, this is the response:
Thanks.
The Aru is C.B. He was born at the Silver Springs Wildlife Park in Ocala Fl 3-4 yrs back
Zane
Now the good part, today when the cop came here, Zane was asked where he got the GTP at. His response was that he got it from Oklahoma. In front of the cop I said that is funny because I have an email forwarded to me from Ohio that says you got it at Silver Springs.
I worked at silver springs during the time that his email says it was born there, and we had no GTP's whatsoever. Zane had already admitted he stole the sulcatas. This is when he caved in and admitted guilt in all the animals.
I really do not want Zane to rot away in jail, I really would rather not see him get a felony offense. That stuff sticks with you forever. However, what lesson is learned if you are constantly let off the hook.
I would really like to thank Rich Z. for his help, also Chris at Topshelf exotics, Scott Axel, Joe at Ocala Reptile, and especially Krystal, who has stuck with me trying to get this male aru back so I can ship it to her. She has been extremely patient in a screwed up situation. I applaud her for sticking with me, she is an example of a customer that I hope to have for a lifetime.
As for Zane, I truly am sorry that it had to come to this. If he just came to me and told me that he was having money problems, I would have done whatever I could to help him.
As for any doubts on this, he gave a tape recorded confession in the patrol car before they left here, and he now has a trespassing warning for our property.
Hope I have given enough proof to anyone that reads this about what happened. I do have a case number and such.
Anyways once again, thank you faunaclassifieds, I definately wouldn't have been able to catch him without your classifieds section, and I wouldn't have been able to post this without the BOI.
Take care all,
TOM
Take care.
