SANTA CRUZ, Calif -- More than $10,000 worth of snakes were stolen from a local dealer.

The vipers disappeared while being shipped from Santa Cruz to customers nationwide, Sheriff's Department investigators said.

The first snake, a Super Pastel Ball Python worth $7,000, was boxed up for shipment to a customer in Kansas, but the customer said the shipping box was empty when it arrived.

The Santa Cruz Reptiles owner, whose name was withheld because he fears he will be the target of future thefts, was suspicious. He's never lost a snake during 10 years in business.

Then, a week ago, the snake dealer packed up four female pythons worth about $3,000 and shipped them via United Parcel Service to a long-standing customer in Georgia. The reptiles were missing when the box arrived.

The snake dealer told deputies he normally hands the packaged snakes directly to a UPS driver. However, he brought both packages that arrived empty to a shop that handles packages for shipment.

"Anything that has value is of interest to criminals. It's no different than any other crime. In terms of the investigation, it's grand theft," sheriff's Sgt. Fred Plageman said.