Woman wanted after allegedly stealing ball python from Wheat Ridge store

DENVER (KDVR) — Police are looking for a woman who allegedly stole a ball python from a reptile store in Wheat Ridge, then hit an employee on Monday.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department said a woman allegedly stole the python from the Reptile Room on Kipling Street, near the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, when an employee was helping another customer.

After the employee noticed the snake was missing, police said he confronted the suspect outside. He reportedly saw something moving inside her red Target bag, and the employee asked for the python back.

The suspect then allegedly hit the employee, which police said made it a robbery investigation.

According to Petco, ball pythons are known to curl up into a ball, which is where they get their name. These pythons can reach up to 5 feet in le