GAINESVILLE, FL-

 

 

It was a cold blooded theft of two reptile pets.
A man from Gainesville is accused of stealing two exotic reptiles and then trying to sell them.
Deputies said the victim helped crack the case.

 

 

 

"When you take somebody's pet that's taking part of them," said Charlotte Felner

Felner of Gainesville lives in a apartment with more than 20 snakes, iguanas and tortoises. All of them are her pets.
Over a week ago she traded snakes with 23- year-old Nicholas Hillier.

The man came to her house to pick up some animal supplies that's when Felner noticed he was fascinated by her blue iguana named Memphis.

 

 

 

"If I could get some of those I know this guy down here that wants to buy a whole bunch of them for $300 a pop. So yes if I could get some of those I'd be in business," said Felner.

About a week after on Friday, Memphis was stolen in the middle of the night. Along with this red tortoise named Curry.

"I saw my one cage sitting out there, but obviously the other one was not there. So I freaked out and called the police," said Felner.

 

She sent messages to everyone she knows in the reptile community. Soon after she got a call from the owner of U.S. Iguanas in Hollywood Florida.

"Somebody contacted me this morning to sell me those animals. They actually sent me pictures at 2 a.m," said Felner.

The name of the person who was trying to sell the reptiles was Nicholas Hillier.
He was selling them for $450 and they are worth over a $1,000 together.

"We actually had a detective contact this gentleman posing undercover like he was going to buy these animals," said Alachua County Sheriff's spokesperson Art Forgey.

Deputies arrested Hillier and they said Felner pretty much solved the crime on her own, but she's just excited to have Memphis and Curry back home.

"Now at night your going to make sure you'll bring them in?"
" Yes. I don't want to have to go through that again," said Felner.

Now that her exotic collection is once again complete.

 

Hillier faces three felony charges related to burglary, stolen property and larceny.