Bold claim: A late-night liquor heist turned into a hilariously humbling mishap when a very intoxicated raccoon broke into a Virginia store and ended up passing out on the bathroom floor. And yes, this is exactly the kind of story that makes you double-check the security cameras.
Staff at the Ashland ABC store arrived to a scene of shattered bottles and spilled liquor, all evidence pointing to a midnight intruder with a taste for spirits. The culprit, described as the infamous “masked bandit,” had apparently crawled through a ceiling tile, indulged in shelves up to the bottom tier of spirits, and ultimately collapsed in the bathroom between the toilet and the trash bin.
Animal control officer Samantha Martin transported the suspect to Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter for questioning, but not before it had a moment to sober up. After several hours of rest and no injuries beyond perhaps a lingering hangover, the raccoon was released back into the wild.
The incident occurred after Thanksgiving, during which the store had been closed in observance, making Friday’s break-in all the more dramatic. Photos from the incident show a single blurry CCTV frame of the boozy break-in, leaving the full extent of the raccoon’s intoxication a mystery.
In a social media update, the store thanked Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter for handling the situation professionally and ensuring the visitor received a safe, sober ride home.
As Officer Martin put it, this was “just another day in the life of an animal control officer,” a reminder that wildlife can be bold, unpredictable, and surprisingly fond of a good scotch once in a while.
What do you think sparked this surprising break-in, and should stores adopt more animal-friendly security measures to deter curious critters from sampling their inventory? Share your thoughts in the comments.
