‘Masked intruder’ raccoon apprehended by Stafford Co. deputies

A masked, furry bandit broke into a Stafford home searching for food early Saturday. (Courtesy Stafford County Sheriff’s Office)

A furry burglar was captured and released by deputies in Stafford County, Virginia, on Saturday morning, after residents reported a raccoon inside their home.

Around 3 a.m. Saturday, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found no signs of forced entry at the residence located off Novak Drive. But after a second call at 3:36 a.m. deputies discovered a raccoon who’d initially circumvented them.

“Similar to the raccoon character RJ in the animated comedy ‘Over the Hedge,’ a raccoon entered the home to look for food,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Fortunately, this raccoon possessed none of the superpower abilities of Rocket, the anthropomorphic raccoon in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.”

The four-pawed bandit was apprehended by police after they cornered the suspect in the bathroom. Sergeant G.A. Haney and Deputy K.P. Hall avoided use of force and instead “used a ballistic shield, ironing board and bamboo walking sticks to steer him back outside.”

Deputies were compassionate toward the devious mammal and let the suspect walk free in the wild — with no charges. Deputies said this crime would typically result in a felony charge and no bond.

No deputies or animal suspects were injured according to the sheriff’s office.

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