JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Surveillance video at a Jacksonville pet store caught a man putting a ferret worth $650 in his shorts before leaving the store.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened at Pet Land on Beach Boulevard.
The video above shows the ferret nestled in the man’s hands while he was petting it. The man kneels, takes a look around, and then slips the ferret into his gym shorts before leaving the store.
The pet store had six ferrets. Now it’s down one.
“To me, it’s crazy because we have cameras all around the store. The little bit of camouflage he did was not really camouflage because he was right there on the camera,” Hooly Laforty, pet store employee, said.
They also said they put protective measures in place so no one else could repeat the theft.
“He’s very calm for a guy sticking an animal with nails and teeth down his pants,” Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney said after watching the videos.
Employees said they believe the man has previously been in the store but did not make a purchase. Hackney said the man was likely observing the place to figure out how and when to pull off the animal theft.
“You have to wonder, is this a black market for animals like this?” he said.
If you’ve seen this man, you’re urged to call JSO at 904-630-5000.
