A mischievous raccoon orchestrated an unusual break-in at a liquor store in Virginia over the weekend, embarking on a solo drinking spree that concluded with the furry intruder passed out on the premises.
The Nocturnal Break-In
In the early hours of Saturday, 2 December 2023, the masked bandit managed to gain entry to a closed liquor store in the Ashland, Virginia area. Once inside, the creature targeted the lower shelves, which housed an assortment of scotch and whisky bottles.
The ensuing chaos left a significant trail of destruction. Multiple bottles were smashed, causing alcohol to pool across the floor, and part of a ceiling tile even collapsed during the animal's escapade.
The Morning After Discovery
The scene was discovered on Saturday morning by a store employee, who found the culprit—a raccoon—in a deep, inebriated slumber on the bathroom floor. The animal had clearly indulged heavily during its unsupervised access to the store's stock.
Samantha Martin, an officer with the local animal control, was called to the scene. "I personally like raccoons," Martin remarked. "They are funny little critters. He fell through one of the ceiling tiles and went on a full-blown rampage, drinking everything."
Capture, Care, and Release
Martin safely captured the raccoon and transported it to the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter, finding humour in the surreal situation. "Another day in the life of an animal control officer, I guess," she said.
The shelter confirmed that the raccoon was allowed to sleep off its excesses. After several hours of rest and a veterinary check, it showed no signs of injury—aside from what was presumed to be a substantial hangover.
In an official statement, the agency provided an update on the offender's fate: "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."
