Uber Driver Finds Surprise Passenger: Live Ball Python

Pennsylvania officer recovers snake left behind after reptile show trip

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:24pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a coiled snake resting on a soft, textured surface, with warm, diffused light creating a dreamlike, atmospheric mood that conceptually represents the unexpected nature of the incident.A surprising discovery in an Uber driver's trunk highlights the unexpected situations police officers must be prepared to handle.Exeter Today

An Uber driver in Exeter Township, Pennsylvania, got an unexpected surprise after finishing his shift - a live ball python left behind in his car. The driver had picked up two passengers who were traveling from a reptile show, and the passengers later contacted him saying they had lost some jewelry and wanted to search for it. However, the driver later discovered the real lost item was a live ball python in his trunk.

Why it matters

This unusual incident highlights the wide range of situations that police officers must be prepared to handle, from routine calls to more unexpected and unusual situations involving animals or other unexpected items left behind by passengers.

The details

After the driver dropped off the passengers in Philadelphia, they contacted him saying they had lost some jewelry and wanted to search for it. However, when the driver returned home and opened his trunk the next morning, he found a live ball python instead. The Exeter Township Police Department responded to the call, and Officer Grycon was able to safely secure the snake and arrange for it to be properly cared for.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday, after the driver had picked up the passengers from a reptile show and dropped them off in Philadelphia.
  • The driver discovered the snake in his trunk the next morning when he opened his trunk.

The players

Exeter Township Police Department

The local police department that responded to the call about the snake left behind in the Uber driver's car.

Officer Grycon

The police officer who safely secured the live ball python and arranged for it to be properly cared for.

Uber Driver

The Uber driver who picked up the passengers from a reptile show and later discovered the live ball python left behind in his car.

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What they’re saying

“Turns out the passengers had left behind a ball python in the Uber.”

— Exeter Township Police Department

“Moral of the story: Whether it's routine or something you definitely didn't plan for, Officer Grycon and the Exeter Township Police Department have you covered.”

— Exeter Township Police Department

The takeaway

This unusual incident serves as a reminder that police officers must be prepared to handle a wide range of unexpected situations, from routine calls to more unusual scenarios involving animals or other unexpected items left behind by passengers.