Snake thief

Australian police are on the lookout for an armed snake thief who tied up a family before escaping with reptiles worth more than £40,000 (US$75,000). The thief targeted a house near Adelaide where a family kept 12 green tree pythons - each worth AUS$9,000.

Brandishing a pistol, the man stuffed the 75cm-long non-venomous snakes into a duffel bag, tied up the mother and two children, and vanished. Police say the thief could try to sell the snakes elsewhere in Australia.

Green tree pythons, which are a distinctive bright green with yellow and black speckling, fetch high prices on the black market. They are native to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and northern regions of Australia.

"There is no doubt that the person was aware of exactly what he was after. This was not a random act," Supt Ferdi Pit of Adelaide police told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The black market in valuable reptiles is apparently flourishing in Australia, especially in the eastern states, Supt Pit said.

"You look at the price of these animals, it's like going into a bank or a jewellery store," said Mr Mensforth, a friend of the most recent victims.

But the trade is not without its dangers - quite apart from the ever-present risk of snake bites and possible poisoning.

Trade in reptiles is strictly controlled, and dealers need special licenses.

Any thief aiming to sell on more than A$100,000 worth of snakes would probably have a buyer lined up in advance, one dealer told the Sydney Morning Herald.