A Leon Valley man is facing felony theft charges after he was arrested for stealing a shark from the San Antonio Aquarium.
Antone Shannon, 38, was arrested on a state felony charge for theft of property valued at between $2,500 and $30,000 after surveillance footage showed the man, along with two accomplices later identified as Shannon’s neighbors, removing a horned shark from an aquarium display, wrapping it in a wet blanket and smuggling it out of the building in a child’s stroller.
Shannon admitted to the shark-napping and could face additional federal charges after authorities found other exotic animals in his aquariums. The investigation into the theft found that Shannon had been planning the heist for some time, even visiting the aquarium to take water quality measurements so that he could prepare his home aquarium for the new addition.
The shark, known as Miss Helen, was was recovered and returned to its tank at the Aquarium unharmed.
“She’s still doing well,” SAA general manager Jenny Spellman told MySanAntonio.com. “She hasn’t eaten today, but that’s not out of the ordinary after she’s been through such stressful events.”