A Grahamstown thief was taught a harsh lesson that he will never forget when he targeted a car on Dundas Street.
A Grahamstown thief was taught a harsh lesson that he will never forget when he targeted a car on Dundas Street.
The miscreant noticed a small unattended cooler bag inside the vehicle.
Thinking it was easy pickings, he grabbed the bag and ran off into the parking lot behind Clicks, where he intended to examine the loot.
As he unzipped the bag, he got the fright of his life when he saw that the bag he had stolen contained an angry boomslang.
Eyewitnesses in the parking lot said the thief screamed and threw the bag into the air, and the venomous snake made off between the cars.
Terrified bystanders asked one of the shop owners on the street to call Grahamstown’s own snake handler, Basil Mills, to come and rescue the reptile.
Mills immediately came to the area and in no time at all was able to catch the snake.
He noticed that it was quite badly injured and said it had probably been driven over by a car.
He warned however, that one-metre long snake was still dangerous as he returned it to the cooler bag.
Mills said he was not able to determine why the snake was in the cooler bag in the first place, but he said it might have been put there by someone who had repeatedly had things stolen from inside his car.
He commented that while this method of crime prevention might be effective, it was extremely dangerous, as the boomslang has one of the most potent venoms of all snakes in the country.
He said the only anti-venom for a boomslang had to come from Pretoria.
On a positive note, Mills said he was pleased that the bystanders in the car park did not try to kill the snake.
He felt that one of his many talks about reptiles and how to deal with them had helped them not to panic and to rather summon a competent snake handler.
He stressed that people should contact the fire department or him rather than try to kill snakes that they might encounter.
Join Basil Mills on a fascinating guided tour of rocky outcrops of Gunfire Hill outside Grahamstown during Scifest Africa from 18 to 24 March.
Observe like a naturalist, guess like a historian and imagine like a poet, as he guides you through bush and bush lore.
On this short and gentle hike, you will learn more about Grahamstown’s unique natural environment, but also hear tales of some of the authors, playwrights and actors who have passed through the City of Saints.
