Overview
- The raccoon that went viral after the Ashland ABC store incident has been linked to at least three break-ins, Officer Samantha Martin said on the county’s Hear In Hanover podcast.
- Martin identified earlier intrusions at a karate studio and the DMV, where the animal reportedly helped itself to snacks.
- During the Black Friday episode, the raccoon broke several liquor bottles and was found passed out in the store’s bathroom.
- After spending the night at the Hanover County shelter, the animal was released near the scene under a policy that avoids relocation, which officials say is often fatal for raccoons.
- The story has spawned merchandise and themed cocktails, extending the raccoon’s notoriety even as officials express hope it learned its lesson.