Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 3, 1990                   TAG: 9007030438
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA                                LENGTH: Short

RARE SNAKES ARE STOLEN

Three rare snakes - a green tree python, an emerald tree boa constrictor and a python with a gold stripe on its back - were taken from terrariums at the Landmark Pet Shop.

Eighteen baby boa constrictors and Burmese pythons also were taken.

None of the snakes is longer than 3 feet, and none is poisonous.

Pet shop owner Steve Carmody said the thieves knew exactly what snakes they wanted.

"I'm sure they knew what they were doing. We have over 100 snakes, all kinds of animals, and they didn't bother any of them. . . . They went right for the baby boas and pythons and the rare snakes."

The burglars entered the shop by throwing a concrete block and a brick through a front glass door between 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Carmody said the green tree python is worth up to $700, the emerald tree boa is worth $500 and the gold-striped python is worth about $200.

Carmody said the snakes need special attention - a diet of live rodents, temperatures in the 80s or 90s, clean cages and tree branches to climb on or hang from.