A raccoon in Virginia, who famously broke into a liquor store and drank himself unconscious, is now the prime suspect in a wider suburban crime spree—including a break-in at a local karate studio.
According to Hanover animal control officer Samantha Martin, the raccoon—nicknamed the “trashed panda”—is believed to have struck at least three times in the area. After his initial Thanksgiving weekend arrest for public intoxication inside an Ashland liquor store, the raccoon was released back into the wild. But authorities suspect he didn’t stay on the straight and narrow.
“This is not the first time he’s been in one of the buildings,” Officer Martin said on the county’s official podcast, Hear in Hanover. “He was in the karate studio. I think he got into the DMV and ate some of their snacks one time.”
Martin noted it’s possible a different raccoon committed the earlier break-ins, but officials have identified the “trashed panda” as their primary suspect. The string of incidents reflects a broader trend identified by recent research: raccoons are rapidly adapting to urban life, becoming bolder and more comfortable around humans.
With the furry felon still at large, Officer Martin warned it’s only a matter of time before he strikes the shopping center again.
By James Kisoo
