Hot Springs police are looking for two suspects who broke into the
Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo wearing masks, stealing 13 baby
alligators and stuffing them into their bags.
Manager Jamie Bridges who has grown up on the farm just wanting answers
to know if his gators are safe.
"We're a sanctuary for gators," Bridges said.
It's an attraction first opening in Hot Springs in 1902.
"In 1945 my grandfather bought it," Bridges added. It's a place Bridges
and his family can share their love for gators to all who visited.
"We just enjoy animals, enjoy alligators and its been good to us,"
Bridges said. All year guests visit the farm for a feeding with gators,
but early on Saturday morning someone took a bite out of this family
business.
"Its less than two minutes and they're gone," Bridges said. In the
surveillance video you can see the two suspects wearing masks breaking
down the door, taking 13 baby gators, stuffing them into their bags and
taking off.
"They were like our babies, we treated them like babies, we didn't let
anybody handle them, even my workers," Bridges said.
Bridges says 12 of them were about 12 inches long and not even a year
old, and the other around 3 feet.
"They just started eating real good, had gotten used to us you know, but
they're gone now," Bridges said. He believes the suspects were no
strangers to the farm. He filed a police report and wants them to get
caught, but he wants to get his gators back.
"I think word will get out and maybe we'll get them back. I hope,"
Bridges said. If not, he just wants them to be safe.
"I just hope if they did get them that they take them where somebody will take care of them," Bridges said.
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