One of Texas ’ most flakey manhunts has occur to a close after three suspects were accused of stealing a live shark from an aquarium by pretending it was a baby , twine it in a blanket , and wheeling it away in a tyke ’s pushchair .
The sharknapping go on at theSan Antonio Aquariumin Texas on the afternoon of July 28 , according toa public announcementby the aquarium . That ’s right , the crime was carried out in the most sacred of weeks : Shark Week .
“ We are beyond excited that the law find the shark and have allow us to pick her up , ” Ammon Covino , proprietor of the San Antonio Aquarium , told IFLScience .
“ I do not make love why someone would take a shark from my aquarium . I think Shark Week might have had something to do with it , ” added Covino .
The unusual situation came to light source when the marine museum ’s staff pick out three people act suspiciously with a pushchair near one of their interactive shark cuddling pools . Management followed the defendant into the parking mess , but they refused to have their prop look and chop-chop made off in their car .
CCTV footage appeared to show that the group had indeed steal a French horn shark , a diminished species of bullhead shark that bar no longer than 40 cm ( 16 inch ) .
The video recording shows the thieves staking out the pet consortium for over an time of day , waiting for the staff to leave the elbow room . While marine museum staff are distracted by an accomplice , another of the suspect reaches into the pool and grabs something with a meshing . They then head into an empty backroom where they allegedly poured a solution of bleach , which is used by the aquarium to disinfect the tanks , into a cold water exhibit filtration system . as luck would have it , thanks to the speedy action of the staff , the marine life narrowly avoided being harmed .
fit in to the fish tank , the trio then placed the shark into a bucketful , covered it with a crocked blanket , and pushed it away in a child ’s stroller .
One gentleman has been charged after confessing to the theft and two other individuals have explosive charge pending . Police believe that the shark was not kidnapped for profit , but to be lend to the suspect ' extensive private accumulation of marine life .
“ The arresting officer said that the defendant had one of these sharks but lost it and wanted another one , ” Covino add .
As for Miss Helen the shark , she is presently being held in quarantine at the fish tank to permit her to acclimatize and recover while staff evaluate her health .
