Australian's bungled snake theft

Two men have been arrested after bewildered diners at a McDonald's in Melbourne spotted them wrestling a 1.5 metre python in the restaurant car park.

Victoria state police say the men stole the eight-year-old black-headed python, named Boris, and a lizard from a pet shop on Wednesday.

They then brought the snake to the McDonald's car park, where they began wrestling with it in front of puzzled customers, police said.

The men, aged 22 and 24, were arrested and charged with burglary and theft. Police haven't released their names.

"In all honesty, it's just a case of dumb and dumber. Anyone who gets out there with a one and a half metre python in a McDonald's car park, they're pretty dumb." Detective Sergeant Andrew Beams told Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The snake was eventually returned to a relieved Jodie Graham, owner of the Totally Reptiles pet shop. The lizard is still missing. She said that Boris was still agitated but was recovering from the ordeal.

"He was playing up a lot in the tank. He was doing a lot of head butting. Soon, once I got him out, he calmed down and (was) quite comfortable being back with me I suppose," she said.

Black-headed pythons are native to northern Australia. They are not venomous, and are unlikely to bite unless they are hunting prey.