Missouri man charged after stealing two alligators

ST. LOUIS – A Missouri man is facing theft charges after authorities say he stole two live alligators from a pet store by stuffing them into his shorts pocket.

KMOV-TV reports 20-year-old Melvin Davis is charged with felony theft. Authorities say the incident occurred in July at a south St. Louis County pet store.

The owner of Exotic Amphibian and Reptile Center says security video footage shows Davis putting the reptiles into a cargo shorts pocket. The owner says the animals haven’t been returned.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Davis has been arrested.

This story was originally published September 12, 2014 at 7:26 AM with the headline "Missouri man charged after stealing two alligators."