Eighty rare reptiles stolen from Rochdale pet shop in overnight raid

Eighty snakes and rare iguanas have been taken during a break-in at a specialist pet shop in Rochdale.

The animals taken included rare blue iguanas, four royal pythons and a large number of corn snakes, rat snakes and king snakes.

Thieves struck at the shop called Reptacular after it closed on Wednesday and staff only discovered the break-in when they arrived for work the next morning.

The reptiles were stolen on Wednesday after the shop closed Credit: MEN Syndication

It’s believed the thieves also tried to take the shop’s two pet monkeys, a pair of cotton-eared marmosets.

They were found traumatised in the shop after the doors to their enclosure were ripped off.

It's estimated the break-in could cost the shop around £15000 Credit: MEN Syndication

Business owner David Charlton said:

Dave Charlton, the owner of Reptacular, believes the key to finding the animals is locating the rarest among them, the blue igaunas Credit: MEN Syndication

It is estimated the break-in will cost the business around £15,000.

The shop can house around 1000 animals but staff have now removed many to another location as they remain fearful of being targeted again.

Owner Dave said because there are just a handful of blue iguanas in the country he believes they will be the key to identifying those responsible.

He said: