3 Teens Caged After Stealing Zoo Animals
Teens tried to sell animals they stole from the Palm Beach Zoo
Palm Beach Zoo
Three teens are behind bars for stealing zoo animals.
Authorities say they've arrested a third teenager for his role in breaking into the Palm Beach Zoo and stealing four monkeys and a parrot.
West Palm Beach police say 18-year-old Magdiel Cortes was arrested and charged with burglary and larceny. Cortes was scheduled for a bond hearing Thursday. Police already arrested 18-year-old Jonathan Lopez and 17-year-old Sean Patrick Harrison for their roles in the theft. Lopez was also charged with animal cruelty.
The three bandits allegedly broke into the zoo earlier this month through a broken gate and stole three squirrel monkeys, a Goeldi's monkey and a Green-Cheeked Amazon parrot.
The animals were found badly dehydrated in an abandoned home a few weeks later. They were being kept in tupperware containers and being cooled by a single rotating fan.
Investigators believe the motive for the thefts was to sell the animals.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 6 Miami
Posted Thursday, Sep 24, 2009 - 2:59 PM EST
