A janitor at the United Center was charged last week with burglarizing the Lincoln Park Zoo reptile house in Oct. 2017, according to court records.
The reptile house is home to rattlesnakes, pythons, boa constrictors, caimans, and crocodiles, among other animals, according to the zoo’s website.
Prosecutors said 63-year-old William Hannah of the New City neighborhood broke through the slithery sanctuary’s front door, smashed the window to a break room, and stole cash from a donation box. But he allegedly left some blood behind. A police evidence technician submitted samples of the blood for DNA matching, which recently identified Hannah as the source of the fluid.
Cops recognized Hannah and tracked him down while he worked at the United Center on Mar. 11, according to a CPD report.
Prosecutors charged Hannah with felony burglary. Judge Arthur Willis released him on his own recognizance.