BUILDER Richard Elliott is hoping his pet tarantula will take a bite out of burglars who crept into his home during the night and stole £1,000 worth of electrical equipment.

The thieves also took the curly-haired Honduran spider Speedy and his worried owner says the creepie crawlie is now due for a feed.

The raiders took Richard's video recorder and computer play-station but they also swiped three-inch long Speedy who was being kept in a glass case.

Richard, 28, of Pipkin Way, east Oxford, said the poisonous spider, which he bought six months ago, could take his hunger out on his captors because he has not been fed for 48 hours.

He and his girlfriend Michelle Johnston, 24, were asleep when the burglars struck on Thursday night.

He said: "It's bad enough being burgled because we weren't insured but it makes it worse when your pet is taken.

"I always wanted a pet tarantula when I was a child but my dad wouldn't let me have one. I had become very attached to him and chose the name Speedy because he would race towards the insects when I dropped them in his tank."

Richard said he paid £15 for the spider from a dealer in Slough but the hairy creature had gained sentimental value. Michelle added that she was not too sure about Richard's taste in pets when he first bought the tarantula home.

"I got a bit of a shock," she said, "but then I got used to seeing him sitting in his tank and I will miss him now he is gone."

Michelle added: "I want Speedy to give these burglars a nasty bite. I don't suppose it will make them bring our stuff back but it might give them a shock."

If the spider does bite the burglars, Richard added, it will not kill them, but they will suffer twice the pain of that inflicted by a bee sting and could need hospital treatment.

Sgt Stuart Gibbs, of Oxford police, said: "It's an unusual theft. These thieves may be in for a nasty surprise." Top five spider songs Spiders From Mars - David Bowie

Arachno Around the Clock - Bill Hailey

Crawl Me - Blondie

The Spider Who Loved Me - Carly Simon

Wild Boys - Taran Taran

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