Authorities in Tennessee are searching for four suspects accused of robbing a convenience store with an unusual weapon — two live pythons. The thieves stormed a gas station in Madison County — frightening employees with the reptiles before making off with stolen goods.
The robbery took place on March 4 when two men and two women entered a Citgo station — waving the snakes and placing them on the counter to intimidate workers. The suspects stole $400 worth of CBD oil before fleeing the scene in a four-door sedan with a trunk secured by bungee cords.
Store employee Mayur Raval, who was present during the heist, recalled the chaotic moment. “They pulled their car up to the front of the door,” he said. “I think they planned to successfully come here and rob the store. The snake is a weapon, you know.”
Authorities have released images from the store’s security footage in an attempt to identify the suspects. They are asking the public for assistance in tracking down the individuals involved.
Oddly, this isn’t the first time a snake has been used in a Tennessee robbery. Last year, a man in Memphis attempted to rob a gas station using a five-foot python. His plan failed when the store clerk pulled a firearm and called the police.
Pythons, which can grow up to 33 feet long and weigh as much as 250 pounds, are non-venomous but can kill their prey by constriction. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case.
