Authorities in Madison County, Tennessee, are searching for a group of suspects accused of robbing a convenience store using live snakes to intimidate employees before fleeing with hundreds of dollars in stolen goods.
The incident took place at a Citgo gas station on March 4, when two men and two women entered the store, one of them carrying a python. Moments later, another snake was brought inside, both reptiles waved around as part of a bizarre attempt to scare workers.
Surveillance footage shows the group arriving in a small sedan, parking directly in front of the store before stepping inside. One of the employees working at the time, Mayur Raval, recalled the unusual crime, explaining that the thieves placed the snakes on the counter as they grabbed about $400 worth of CBD oil.
“They pulled their car up to the front of the door,” Raval said. “I think they planned to successfully come here and rob the store. The snake is a weapon, you know.”
After taking the CBD products, the suspects quickly left in their car, which had a trunk secured by bungee cords. Police have released images from store surveillance footage in hopes that someone will recognize the individuals involved.
This isn’t the first case of a snake being used in a crime in Tennessee. Last year, a man in Memphis attempted to rob a gas station using a five-foot python, but his plan fell apart when the store clerk pulled a gun and called 911.
