After several days of worrying, Miss Helen, a 16-inch long horn shark from the San Antonio Aquarium, has been brought back unharmed. She was stolen on Saturday night July 28th, hidden in a stroller and disguised as a baby, to make for a crafty escape. The thieves were caught using security footage from the aquarium, where the horn shark was removed from her tank, wrapped in a towel, and placed in the stroller.
One of the kidnappers was an employee of the aquarium and tried selling her for $300 on Facebook. Horn sharks can be valued at up to $2000. They’re native to the California Coast and grow up to four feet in length. The species is harmless to humans and eats small fish and mollusks. When not stolen, Miss Helen lives in a petting tank, where she is loved by children and adults alike.
The San Antonio aquarium has approached the incident with a social media savvy attitude, posting about the incident on Facebook and Instagram to spur interest and help catch the kidnappers. The aquarium’s efforts, along with help from employees and the public, helped them catch the thieves in just three days!
When police found the kidnappers with Miss Helen, they found her in an elaborate fake aquarium, which was created by one of the thieves. Chief Joseph Salvaggio of the Leon Valley police told KSAT of the kidnappers, “He knew very much what he was doing and kept that animal alive.”
Although Miss Helen is a small shark, she’s “a fighter…a survivor,” according to a museum employee. Horn sharks live well in captivity, so they’re often found in public aquariums. While Miss Helen’s still recovering from the incident, she’s doing well and should be able to return to her home soon.
