What!? Virginia neighborhood stunned after drunk raccoon with past 'criminal record' goes on break-in spree

What began as a bizarre Black Friday break-in has now turned into one of the strangest crime sagas Virginia has seen, involving a raccoon, a liquor store ceiling, smashed whiskey bottles, and what local officials are openly calling a repeat offender.



On 29 November, news emerged that a raccoon had broken into an ABC store in Ashland, Virginia, helped itself to spirits, and passed out drunk in a bathroom. The incident quickly went viral. But by mid-December, officials confirmed something even stranger: this was not the animal’s first break-in.



According to The Guardian, the raccoon now has at least three known burglaries to his name, all on the same block.

A Black Friday break-in, and a drunken discovery

The incident unfolded after reports of a break-in at the Ashland ABC store prompted a visit from Samantha Martin, an officer with Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter.



What she found was not a typical crime scene. A soaked aisle reeking of alcohol was littered with smashed bottles, notably spirits, not wine. The trail led to the bathroom, where the suspect was found asleep between a toilet and a bin. Hanover County Animal Protection later described the animal as “very intoxicated”.



In a Facebook statement, the department said: “Officer Martin safely secured our masked bandit and transported him back to the shelter to sober up before questioning.



After a few hours of sleep and zero signs of injury (other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices), he was safely released back to the wild, hopefully having learned that breaking and entering is not the answer.” The raccoon was uninjured, aside from what officials joked may have been a hangover.

As it turns out, the raccoon didn’t stroll through the front door.



Officials confirmed the animal entered through the ceiling, taking down a security camera in the process, which explains why there is no footage of the incident.



The ABC store later thanked Officer Martin for “providing our visitor with a sober ride home” after the raccoon racked up what was described as a substantial bill.

Not his first crime: karate studio, DMV — and snacks

On 13 December, The Guardian reported a startling update: the liquor store raid was the raccoon’s third known break-in. Before burgling the ABC store, the same animal had broken into a karate studio and a department of motor vehicles office, all located on the same block of businesses in Hanover County.



Martin revealed the details on an episode of the local government’s official podcast, Hear in Hanover. “This is not the first time he’s been in one of the buildings,” Martin said. “Supposedly, this is the third break-in he’s had. Somehow he knows how to get back in … He’s a smart little critter.”



She added that the raccoon had even eaten snacks kept at the DMV, a detail that, in hindsight, seemed to foreshadow his later alcohol-fuelled spree.

Why officials released him — again

Despite the growing rap sheet, Martin said relocating the raccoon was not an option. “It would be a death sentence,” she said, explaining that removing the animal from its familiar environment would severely reduce its chances of survival.



After sobering up at the shelter, the raccoon was released not far from the liquor store, the karate studio and the DMV. Martin admitted to mixed feelings. “I just say: ‘Enjoy your life.’”

“I think he’s living his best life,” she continued. “And why not? Have a drink or two, especially on Black Friday.” By 16 December, the raccoon’s infamy had taken an unexpected turn. Merchandise commemorating the incident, created by Bonfire in partnership with Hanover County Animal Protection, has raised more than $254,000 for the shelter.



Emblazoned with the phrase “Trashed Panda”, the shirts, sweatshirts, cups and stickers feature an image of a raccoon spread-eagled next to a spilled bottle, unmistakably referencing the position the animal was found in after the break-in.



According to Bonfire’s website, proceeds from the limited-edition campaign “directly support shelter animal care and enrichment”. As of Tuesday morning, the campaign was fewer than 250 sales away from its goal of 19,000 items sold.



The shelter wrote: “While this raccoon gave us all a much-needed laugh, our officers handle hundreds of calls each year involving wildlife, stray animals, and emergencies requiring specialized training and equipment. Your support helps us continue providing compassionate, professional service to both animals and residents of Hanover county.”