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roseville croc
Roseville Animal Control Officer Bennett with a 4-foot crocodile found Wednesday at a shopping center. (Courtesy: Roseville Public Safety)

ROSEVILLE-

A four-foot crocodile was found Wednesday wandering the TJ Maxx Plaza in Roseville, according to officers.

Someone reportedly left it at the plaza in its container with a note that identified it as a Nile croc and to “call rescue.” Investigators say the croc somehow got out of its cage and went for a walk at the Douglas Boulevard shopping center.

A reptile business is nearby.

An animal control officer was able to capture the croc, which will now be placed in a Fish & Wildlife education organization.

“If it’s really a Nile croc, it could grow to a length of 20 feet–not only illegal to own, but a really bad idea for a pet,” Roseville Public Safety said in a Facebook post.

Officials did not say if the croc’s owner had been tracked down.

Nile crocs are the second largest reptiles on the planet.