Staff Sgt. Lyle Schmidt said there was a commotion at the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo on Saturday afternoon when someone claimed that a snake was being taken away in a car.
The vehicle sped away, Schmidt said, and staff at the zoo noticed that the mesh at the top of Tickles' glass enclosure had been pushed in and the snake was gone.
The 1.5-metre royal python isn't venomous - it kills its prey by squeezing.
"Apparently, Tickles is quite gentle," Schmidt said. "He just ate, so he should be good for a week."
Still, police are asking people to be cautious if they encounter the stolen snake.
Attempts to track down the vehicle seen speeding away haven't worked, Schmidt said, and police don't have a lot to go on so far.
The snake weighs about five kilograms, and is black with yellow, gold and brown markings.
Schmidt said police don't know what the motive for the theft might have been. He said it's possible it was a prank, or the snake was stolen to be re-sold.
Staff at the zoo are anxious for him to returned safely.
"There's a lot of sentimental value attached to him. Every school child who's gone out there on a field trip knows who he is," Schmidt said.
