CANBERRA (Reuters) - Police in Australia's tropical north on Friday said they were hunting for thieves who stole 18 saltwater crocodiles.

The thieves entered an enclosure at a crocodile farm in the northern city of Darwin earlier in the week, taking 18 of the baby reptiles, police said in a statement.

The crocs were only about 37 centimetres (14 inches) long, but would be worth about A$1,000 (458 pounds) each on the black market, police said.

"They have obviously found a way to get in and remove 18 crocodiles from the farm. Eighteen crocs of that size could fit in a tub and be moved reasonably easily," police spokesman Matt Crichton told Australian Associated Press.

Saltwater crocodiles are the world's largest and most dangerous reptiles. Male "salties" can grow up to 6 metres long (20 feet).

Australian crocodile farming started across the tropical north in the 1980s, with crocodile skins exported to Japan, France, Italy and Singapore to be made into boots, handbags, belts and luggage.

(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by David Fox)