A 13-week-old sun conure was carried out of Mark's Ark Pet Store in Greenacres, Florida, in a cage Tuesday afternoon, and the store's owner says the young bird may not survive without specialized care. The suspect returned to the store about one minute later and made off with a snake in a reptile tank as well, before disappearing with both animals.
A Brazen Return Trip
According to WPBF 25, the theft occurred around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday at the store, and the suspect's decision to come back for a second animal just a minute after the first grab has left store owner Mark Bullock rattled. The bird and the snake, together with its tank, are valued at approximately $800, per the station's report.
Mark's Ark Pet Store sits at 4566 Lake Worth Road and has operated in Palm Beach County for more than 30 years, according to Loc8NearMe. The family-owned shop specializes in freshwater and saltwater fish, reptiles, small mammals, and exotic birds, and also offers grooming, including nail and wing grooming.
Why Time Is Running Out for the Chick
The urgency in this case isn't just about dollar value. The store owner says the 13-week-old bird needs specialized hand-feeding.
Bullock has publicly warned that the stolen chick cannot survive without someone knowledgeable enough to hand-feed it properly, and that it may starve to death without that care, per his account to WPBF 25.
Felony Charges Could Follow
Florida law sets a clear line for when theft becomes a felony. Under Florida Statute § 812.014, taking property valued at $750 or more is classified as third-degree grand theft, a felony carrying up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to legal analysis from Moses & Rooth. Because the bird and snake together are valued at about $800, the case clears that threshold rather than falling under misdemeanor petit theft.
Florida law also addresses aggravated animal cruelty. Under Florida Statute § 828.12, intentionally failing to care for an animal or committing acts that cause excessive pain or death constitutes third-degree felony aggravated animal cruelty, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, per an explainer from Goldman Wetzel.
Part of a Broader Pattern in Florida
This isn't the first time a hand-reared bird has vanished from a Florida pet shop. A suspect was arrested in Oldsmar for stealing a $2,400 hand-fed baby caique parrot, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
What Investigators Are Asking For
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about the stolen bird to contact the office as the search continues for the missing conure and snake.
