What started as a peculiar Black Friday incident in Virginia has spiraled into one of the state's most unusual crime stories. The tale involves a repeat offender, a liquor store ceiling, shattered whiskey bottles, and a very intoxicated raccoon. Local officials have now confirmed this was not the animal's first foray into burglary.
The Black Friday Break-In and a Drunken Discovery
On 29 November, reports of a break-in at an ABC liquor store in Ashland, Virginia, brought Officer Samantha Martin from the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter to the scene. Instead of a human intruder, she discovered an aisle soaked in alcohol, reeking of spirits and littered with broken bottles. The trail led to a bathroom, where the suspect—a raccoon—was found fast asleep between a toilet and a bin, described by officials as "very intoxicated."
In a Facebook statement, the department shared the humorous details. "Officer Martin safely secured our masked bandit and transported him back to the shelter to sober up before questioning," they wrote. After a few hours of sleep with no injuries—aside from a potential hangover—the raccoon was released back into the wild. Investigations revealed the animal did not use the front door but entered through the ceiling, knocking down a security camera in the process.
A Shocking Revelation: A Repeat Offender Emerges
By 13 December, the story took a stranger turn. On the local government's podcast, Hear in Hanover, Officer Martin revealed this was the raccoon's third known break-in on the same business block in Hanover County. Prior to the liquor store raid, the same clever critter had broken into a karate studio and a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. "This is not the first time he's been in one of the buildings," Martin stated. "Somehow he knows how to get back in … He's a smart little critter." She added that during the DMV break-in, the raccoon had even helped itself to snacks, foreshadowing its later alcohol-fueled spree.
Release, Merchandise, and an Unlikely Fundraiser
Despite the growing rap sheet, officials chose to release the raccoon near its familiar territory. Officer Martin explained that relocating it would be a "death sentence" as it would struggle to survive outside its known environment. "I just say: 'Enjoy your life,'" she admitted. "I think he's living his best life. And why not? Have a drink or two, especially on Black Friday."
By 16 December, the raccoon's infamy sparked a massive charitable campaign. Merchandise branded with the phrase "Trashed Panda"—featuring an image of a raccoon sprawled next to a spilled bottle—was created by Bonfire in partnership with Hanover County Animal Protection. The sale of shirts, sweatshirts, cups, and stickers has raised an astounding more than $254,000 for the shelter. The limited-edition campaign, which was fewer than 250 sales away from its 19,000-item goal, directly supports animal care and enrichment.
The shelter expressed gratitude, noting that while the raccoon provided a laugh, their officers handle hundreds of serious wildlife and stray animal calls annually. The funds ensure they can continue providing professional and compassionate service to both animals and residents of Hanover County.
