Rene Caovilla, retailer of Harrods, one of London's well-known high-end stores, designed a pair of ruby, sapphire and diamond encrusted sandals worth $120,000. Caovilla ordered live Egyptian cobras to guard the shoe counter on its launching day.

Security experts said that hiring a poisonous snake to guard their most precious footwear is really the most effective because no one would dare touch their most expensive sandals.

Harrod's spokesperson said, it is just for photo op and they hired the cobras just for the occasion.

"The snake has now been returned to its owner," the spokeswoman said.

"So no need to fear snake bites at the shoe counter then," she added.

"Not unless you're a burglar," the spokeswoman said.