A woman caught on surveillance video stealing two Aztec boa constrictors from behind the counter at the Herp Hobby Shop in Oldsmar has been arrested, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

  • Incident occurred on May 10
  • Woman can be seen grabbing snake from shelf
  • Woman also suspected of stealing albino baby slider turtles

Deputies arrested Nicole Odierno, 18, and Jeremy Lawson, 19, and charged them each with one count of grand theft.

The incident, caught on surveillance video at the shop, took place on May 10 at about 1:23 p.m.

“This is disturbing to watch. It’s upsetting,” said owner Andrew Potts, referring to the security video. “I mean, you feel violated.”

Deputies said Odierno and Lawson came into the store located at 103 E. Douglas Road on Wednesday. While Lawson distracted staff in the store, Odierno stepped behind the counter, grabbed a boa in a plastic container off the shelf and left the store.

However, she left her cell phone behind.

A short time later, the video shows Odierno come back into the store to get her phone and steal a second boa. Potts said the snakes are 18 inches long and worth about $300 each.

“The audacity of some people to not take one snake but to leave come back and take another snake,” he said.

An albino slider turtle. (Photo: Josh Rojas, staff)

Detectives also believe Odierno stole two albino baby slider turtles, worth about $150 each. 

Potts said he posted the video on social media and quickly got the identification of the couple.

“We do know the identification and I think law enforcement will take it from here,” he said before Odierno and Lawson turned themselves in to deputies. “We have great video that we’re pretty sure the guilty parties are going to be caught.”

Potts said the suspected thief heard the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the theft case and quickly returned the two boas on Thursday. Potts said she denied taking the turtles and detectives are questioning the woman.

Officials confirmed that the boa constrictors were returned, but the turtles have not been recovered.