Man robs US pet store by shoving python down his pants

A man in the US has managed to walk out of a pet store with a stolen snake by stuffing it down the front of his slacks.

Surveillance footage shows the man entering "A to Z" pet store in Portland, Oregon, and walking over to a snake cage.

He then places the $285 black pastel ball python down his pants, passing the cage's keys to a woman standing nearby - believed to be his girlfriend, who is an alleged accomplice to the theft.

No arrests have been made as a result of Friday's theft, but store co-owner Christin Bjugan said a suspect has been identified.

"We know where he lives, we know where he works, we know all about him and his girlfriend. We're just waiting to get our snake back," Ms Bjugan told KOMO News.

Ms Bjugan admits that although the man was "pretty gutsy", the typically docile snake is known to like warm, dark places.