A stolen dragon investigation has been launched by San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies assigned to the Twin Peaks station.

Make that stolen bearded dragons (Pogona Vitticeps). The bearded dragon lizards, that may look somewhat threatening, were stolen this past week from Feathers, Fins and Fur in Blue Jay in a daring morning theft that was caught on tape.

Shawn Warner from Crestline was one of three employees at the pet store at the time of the incident last Wednesday just before noon. "We saw a young man in his 20s come into the store," said Warner, "and browse around the lizards. He was greeted by another employee and told someone would be with him in a minute. It was about 11:30 a.m."

Owner Dennis McCormack was also helping other customers and noticed the man with red hair and a goatee near a terrarium containing three sandfire-bearded dragons. "As I was finishing with my customer," McCormack recalled, "I noticed the man walk out the front door but didn't think too much about it until later when we discovered the lid to the terrarium was up and the three lizards were gone. They were valued at $125 each and were about 8 inches long."

McCormack called deputies at 1:23 p.m. after an attempt to find the man in the parking lot of Blue Jay Village proved unsuccessful. Officers arrived at 1:42 p.m. and be gan their search for the bearded dragons. The store's security cameras caught several angles of the suspect in the store and exiting the establishment with the three lizards.

The white male suspect was about 6 foot tall and was wearing a black baseball cap, yellow sweatshirt and cargo pants at the time of the incident.

"We have some excellent video of the suspect," McCormack indicated," and deputies were able to obtain several latent prints from the enclosure where the lizards were on display." Psycho, the store's resident mascot bearded dragon, was in a terrarium next to where the three sandfire-bearded dragons were stolen and was undisturbed.

Bearded dragon is the common name for lizards of the genus Pogona, in the family Agamidae. The lizards get their name from the fact many members of the genus display a beardlike extension of the throat, usually during courtship or when feeling threatened. All bearded dragons are indigenous to Australia, and are further classified by their native habitat.

Down under, they inhabit a variety of terrain including desert, dry temperate forest and scrubland. In captivity, bearded dragons eat mealworms, fruits and vegetables and live 8-10 years growing to up to about 24-inches in length.

"Dragons are omnivores and require both vegetable and insect food," McCormack said. "Bearded dragons," McCormack indicated, "have become one of the most popular pet lizards because they are very personable and make a great kid's pet. They have a very docile disposition and are normally very hardy. Dragons are one of the most successfully bred animals in herpetoculture. Hatching size is approximately 3.75 inches and adults can reach nearly two feet."

"Our main concern," McCormack continued, "is for the welfare of the animals because they do take certain requirements in their care. Young dragons demand much more care than adults requiring significantly more food to fuel their astronomical growth rates."

Feather, Fins and Fur has the following sign on its front door: "SHOPLIFTERS will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. A REWARD will be given to every customer who assists in the apprehension of a shoplifter."

Persons with information about the missing bearded dragon lizards are urged to contact the Twin Peaks station at (909) 336-0600.

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