By Jed Lanyon
The Department of Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is urging anyone with information about the reptile theft at Lilydale High School on the weekend of 18-19 May to come forward.
DELWP is now working with Victoria Police after thieves targeted the school’s reptile room stealing four golden/green phase tree snakes and three eastern water dragons.
The snakes, some of which were in their infancy, were worth up to $3000 while the lizards could fetch up to $500, according to teacher and reptile room co-ordinator Marcus Whitby.
DELWP state that the baby golden phase tree snakes are about 10 centimetres long and the green phase tree snake is around 15 centimetres long.
Some of the animals had arrived at the school just a month earlier and there are fears they will be sold illegally.
“It does sort of appear that way when other animals that can’t be on-sold weren’t taken,” Mr Whitby said.
“They were pretty rare and hard to come by.”
Anyone with information regarding the theft should call Lilydale Police on 9739 2300 or submit a report through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
