Employees at an Ashland, Virginia liquor store encountered an unusual scene when arriving at work Saturday morning: a thoroughly inebriated raccoon had orchestrated an overnight break-in, leaving a trail of destruction and consumed spirits in its wake. The animal had apparently fallen through ceiling tiles before embarking on what animal control officials described as “a full-blown rampage” through the closed establishment.
The nocturnal intruder, described as a ‘masked bandit’ by authorities, was discovered unconscious in the restroom between the toilet and trash bin, surrounded by evidence of its drinking spree. Store employees found shattered bottles and pools of liquor across the floor, with Scotch whisky appearing to be the animal’s beverage of choice.
Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter officer Samantha Martin responded to the scene, transporting the disoriented creature for observation. After several hours of sleep and medical evaluation confirming no injuries beyond a probable hangover, the raccoon was deemed fit for release back into its natural habitat.
The store had been closed for Thanksgiving celebrations when the ‘Black Friday break-in’ occurred. While surveillance footage captured only blurry images of the incident, the extensive damage suggested the animal had consumed substantial quantities of alcohol before succumbing to intoxication.
In a social media statement, the liquor store expressed gratitude to animal control services for their professional handling of the situation and for providing their unexpected visitor with what they humorously termed a ‘sober ride home.’ Officer Martin reflected on the incident as representative of the unpredictable nature of animal control work, noting it was ‘just another day in the life of an animal control officer.’