VIRGINIA — A raccoon is gaining unexpected notoriety after breaking into a Virginia liquor store this week, causing a mess inside the business before authorities were able to remove it safely.
According to officials, the incident occurred overnight after the raccoon slipped into ABC Store #253 in Chesapeake by entering through the ceiling. Employees opening the store Tuesday morning discovered displaced ceiling tiles, broken bottles, and scattered merchandise before realizing the culprit was still inside.
Security footage and employee cell-phone video showed the raccoon pacing along the shelves and knocking down items as it attempted to climb its way back up toward the ceiling opening.
“It startled us at first because we thought we were dealing with a break-in,” said one employee who asked not to be named. “Then we saw the raccoon on the shelf looking right at us. It was definitely not how we expected to start the day.”
Chesapeake Animal Services responded to the scene and trapped the raccoon without injury. Officials said the animal appeared healthy and likely entered the store seeking food.
Store staff spent the morning cleaning up broken bottles and patching the ceiling. The ABC store reopened later that afternoon.
The viral incident quickly spread across local social media, drawing jokes from residents who dubbed the raccoon “the masked bandit” and “the newest ABC customer.”
State officials reminded businesses to check for loose roof access points as temperatures drop, noting that raccoons and other wildlife often seek warm indoor spaces during the winter months.
No injuries were reported, and the raccoon was released back into the wild.
