Thumb Bitten Off By Tiger Years Ago. Documented By Police. Old Report Leads To Arrest.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton man who had his thumb bitten off by a tiger a decade ago was just fingered by a gun show vendor who accused him of stealing an AK-47. The theft was caught on camera. The suspect was apparently wearing a shirt with his name on it at the time of the incident.
James Pruden, 66, was charged with grand theft of a firearm. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the theft occurred on October 11 at the West Palm Beach Gun and Knife Show, where a vendor reported that a $750 AK-47 was taken from an unsecured display rack.
The arrest report obtained by BocaNewsNow.com reveals that video captured at the scene shows a man picking up the black and wood-stock rifle, examining it, and then walking away without paying. The suspect was wearing a green T-shirt with “ARMY” on the front and a green hat with “Col. Jim Pruden” embroidered on the back. The video also clearly showed the suspect was missing his right thumb.
Investigators used the name on the hat and other details to track the suspect. Fairgrounds security cameras identified the man’s vehicle as a white Ford truck belonging to Allegiance Crane and Equipment. A records check on the truck linked it to Pruden. Authorities also found a 2014 wildlife commission report noting that Pruden had his right thumb bitten off by a tiger, which matched the unique identifier from the video.
Detectives went to Pruden’s Boca Raton home on SW 18th Street on Tuesday, October 21st, to execute a search warrant. After Pruden initially refused to answer the door, he exited the home and was detained. Inside his room, authorities reported finding the stolen AK-47, the green “ARMY” shirt, and the green hat. Pruden was arrested and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail. He was later released on bond. A court date is pending.
