Arizona man accused of stuffing snakes down shorts

[August 25, 2011]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Police say an Arizona man stole several baby albino boa constrictors at a pet store by stuffing them in his shorts.

Eric Fiegel was arrested Tuesday after police reviewed surveillance footage from Predator's Reptile Center in Mesa. They say a July 30 video shows the 22-year-old man entering the store, removing several snakes from their cage and placing them in the pocket of his shorts before exiting the store without paying.

Police say Fiegel then traveled to another pet store and traded several of the snakes for $175 and a large reptile tank.

The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/q4Qscv) says a witness obtained a license plate number which police used to locate Fiegel. He was later identified by witnesses from a police lineup.

It was unclear Wednesday whether Fiegel has a lawyer.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com/

[Associated Press]

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