The bearded suspect allegedly absconded with a bearded dragon.
A Northern California man is accused of mauling a 12-inch baby bearded dragon from a local pet store Thursday before it escaped.
The suspect – who was wearing a beard, long pants and a Hawaiian shirt – was caught on camera at the time the little creep disappeared from the business on 41st Avenue in the Capitola.
“Surveillance video shows a male suspect tampering with a reptile cage before our scaled friend was discovered missing. He was seen leaving the area in an old, light-colored truck. The suspect is believed to frequent the area.” The Capitol Police Department said on Facebook.
“Let’s help this little guy make sure he gets proper care! Please share this post to spread the word,” they urged in the post.
Family owned Pet store — which describes itself as a pet store offering “animal feeds suitable for any diet, and grooming services” — stays at the heart of the exotic reptile mystery.
The store is open seven days a week and sells everything from fish, birds and reptiles to aquariums and aquatic plants.
When contacted by the California Post, the store said it had not yet received any update on the missing reptiles.
This strange case is not the first missing animal mystery to rock the region.
In 2020, a Soquel man accepted $1,500 to train a dog, but when the training period was over, prosecutors said he refused to return the dog or tell the owners where it was.
Police are asking anyone who recognizes the suspect to email nsherin@cityofcapitola.gov or call (831) 471-1141.