Crime13 December, 20252 min read
Drunk Raccoon Smashes Virginia Liquor Store, Passes Out in Bathroom
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Raccoon broke into Ashland, Virginia liquor store, smashed bottles, drank, then passed out in bathroom Officials suspect the raccoon also broke into a nearby karate studio and the local DMV
5 outlets told this the same way.
Liquor store raccoon incident
A mischievous raccoon broke into the Ashland ABC liquor store in Hanover County, Virginia, on Nov. 29, smashing dozens of bottles and reportedly passing out drunk in a bathroom, according to multiple local reports.
“A mischievous raccoon in Ashland, Virginia made headlines after breaking into an ABC liquor store on Nov. 29, knocking dozens of bottles onto the floor and being found ‘very intoxicated’ lying face-down in the store bathroom.”
Authorities and witnesses circulated photos of the animal passed out next to a toilet, and an animal protection officer described the creature as very intoxicated.
The story quickly spread online, drawing widespread attention.
Raccoon in liquor store
Photos showed broken gin and whiskey bottles strewn in the aisles and a raccoon passed out by a toilet. The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority and county officials recounted the scene with a mix of concern and amusement. People magazine reported that the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority commemorated the episode with three novelty cocktails named after the raccoon.
Sky News highlighted the viral images that circulated after the discovery. The Guardian reported the event using statements from Hanover animal protection officer Samantha Martin on the county podcast. The incident quickly went viral and drew coverage from multiple media outlets.
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Raccoon break-in incidents
Local officials say the liquor-store break-in was not the raccoon’s first run-in with buildings on that block. Authorities and the county’s animal protection officer reported this was the animal’s third known break-in. Past incidents reportedly include a karate studio and the DMV, where the animal "ate some snacks."
“Hanover animal protection officer Samantha Martin told the county’s podcast ‘Hear in Hanover’ that the animal had earlier entered a karate studio and a DMV office, where it ate snacks.”
The Guardian cites Samantha Martin’s comments on the county podcast about the animal. Sky News reports the woman who found the animal said it wasn’t the first time, and officials suspect two other break-ins.
Raccoon incident aftermath
Sources differ on what happened to the raccoon after the incident. People reports that Hanover County Animal Protection said it did not relocate the animal because relocation 'would be a death sentence'. They added that officer Samantha Martin jokingly described the 'smart little critter' as 'living his best life'.
By contrast, Sky News says the creature was taken to a local animal shelter, 'slept off its wild night', and was later released. The Guardian focused on Martin's podcast remarks and did not provide a clear, separate account of relocation or sheltering, leaving the post-incident logistics ambiguous across reports.
Media coverage comparison
The three outlets cover the same curious local incident but emphasize different aspects. People frames the episode as a humorous human-interest piece, highlighting novelty cocktails and playful quotes. The Guardian records the official account and podcast-sourced quotations with a factual tone.
“The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority even honored the episode with three novelty cocktails named after the raccoon.”
Sky News spotlights the viral photos and the rescue and shelter angle. Readers should note small but meaningful divergences, particularly the contradictory reports about whether the animal was taken to a shelter, which remain unresolved in these excerpts.