New Haven police arrested three teens who were trying to steal snakes and a turtle from an environmental center.
Officers responded to a burglar alarm at the East Rock Environmental Center on Cold Spring Street just before 4 p.m. on Friday.
The officers saw three teenagers leaving the area, including one climbing out of a broken window of the facility, according to police.
The teens were carrying two ball pythons, a garter snake and a tortoise from the center. One of the suspects had a bag containing a hammer. When asked why he had the hammer, the teen told officers he used it to break windows, according to police.
Police took the juveniles into custody and rescued the reptiles.
The three suspects were charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass and sixth-degree larceny.
