And certainly if he bred those animals himself, they may retail for $12K, but it's not really that much of a loss. I know of many local ball python breeders that have produced a $16 thousand dollar snake (!), but won't ever be able to find a buyer of such; a trade for other inflated snakes is their best hope. Nonetheless, degenerate thieves don't exactly have the reputation that lends to the adequate and proper care of an animal; something that is of course paramount to a dollar loss.

Ian