"I'm so so happy that we got her back and she appears very healthy," Jamie Shank who works at the aquarium, told KSAT. "I can't believe what she's been through. She's a little fighter. She's a survivor."
Aquarium officials told Cox Media Group’s National Content Desk that the owner of the facility, Ammon Covino, is relieved that police recovered the shark.
Police said that the man accused of taking Miss Helen had a full aquarium in his home.
"There were different marine animals. (He) very much knew what he was doing and kept that animal alive, and was able to continue seeing that animal thrive, which was pretty shocking," Leon Valley Police Chief Joseph Salvaggio told MySanAntonio.
Credit: Courtesy: San Antonio Aquarium
Credit: Courtesy: San Antonio Aquarium
Update: 10:00 p.m. EDT July 30: The San Antonio Aquarium has its horned shark back, according to a post on the aquarium's twitter page.
The small shark was rescued Monday after investigators tracked down one of the alleged thieves, who confessed to the crime, according to KSAT-TV.
One person is in custody as police continue searching for the two others.
The suspects are facing felony theft charges and possibly federal charges, too, KSAT reported.
The shark is not expected to survive because it was placed in a bucket that contained a bleach solution when it was stolen from the facility.
BREAKING: The shark stolen from the San Antonio Aquarium has been rescued 🚨 (video @SAAquarium) pic.twitter.com/plzDxb3C9G
— Michelle Broder Van Dyke (@MBVD) July 31, 2018
Original story: Police are looking for a trio of thieves they say stole a shark Saturday from the San Antonio Aquarium.
Leon Valley police Chief Joseph Salvaggio told KSAT that three people, two males and one female, were caught on surveillance video allegedly stealing a small shark from an open display. KENS5 reported that the trio were seen on video taking the 2- to 3-foot shark out of the tank, wrapping it in a blanket and placing it in a baby stroller.
The alleged thieves are then spotted leaving the aquarium with the stroller. The suspects are believed to have left in a maroon Chevrolet Silverado truck, KENS5 reported.
BREAKING: Police are looking for a trio of thieves who stole a shark from the San Antonio Aquarium over the weekend by stuffing it into a stroller #KSATnews https://t.co/9BXqtPprwr
— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) July 30, 2018
A wildlife expert told KENS5 the horn shark can only live outside of water for one to two hours. Aquarium employees discovered the shark was missing about 45 minutes after the theft, KSAT reported.
Police told KSAT a person of interest is in custody and police have located the truck, which was impounded. Salvaggio said those involved will face felony theft charges.
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