Snake wrestlers caught at Maccas

TWO alleged thieves who put on a bizarre wrestling show with a 1.5-metre python at a McDonald's store overnight missed out on a burger, but found themselves in a pickle all the same.

Police say the pair stole a monitor lizard and the black-headed python from a shop in St James Road, Rosanna, in the Melbourne's northeast shortly before 4am (AEST) on Wednesday.

The reptiles were plucked from glass-fronted cases at the back of the shop, police said.

The alleged thieves slipped the lizard into a pillow case, but dropped the wriggling python as they carried it from the shop.

About 10pm, police said the pair turned up at a McDonald's outlet in Bell Street, Preston with the python in a container.

"They took it out and began wrestling with it as puzzled customers looked on," a Victoria Police spokesman said.

"Police arrested the pair and the python was taken into protective custody, very carefully.

"Detectives described the python as not happy as they placed it back in the container for transport to the Heidelberg police station."

Two men, a 22-year-old from West Heidelberg and a 24-year-old from Reservoir, have been charged with offences including burglary and theft.

The younger man was remanded in custody to appear in the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The older man was bailed to appear in court at a later date.