Eric Fiegel was allegedly caught on camera trying to smuggle five snakes from a store in Mesa, Arizona.
The 22-year-old wandered round the store for "about an hour" with the snakes stuffed down his shorts before leaving, the shop's owner said.
Christian Kaleta said: "He hangs out here for an hour with the animals in his pockets he doesn't just take off with them he hangs around. Really bold.
"Who steals a snake of all things?"
One of the snakes allegedly stolen by Fiegel was a rare baby albino boa constrictor, worth about £500, reports the Arizona Republic.
Police say Fiegel took the snakes to another pet store where he traded some of them for cash and a large reptile tank.
Post published in: World News