Raccoon Bandit Escapes Capture For 45 Minutes Before Locking Itself In Cage In DIY Store

These images show how a raccoon managed to evade capture from staff and animal control for almost an hour before getting fed up and locking itself up in a cage in a DIY store.

The footage first shows the raccoon trapped inside the distribution centre wall as workers try to free it.

It is suddenly freed and then proceeds to race around the store as workers and an animal control officer chase after it – reportedly for 45 minutes – before it is finally caught.

Newsflash obtained a statement from the Boulder Police Department dated 2nd February saying: "Boulder Police Animal Protection Supervisor J. Whittle knew something was off when she heard, 'We finally found the raccoon we were looking for.'

"That’s not usually how the call comes in.

"Local distribution centre employees had spotted the raccoon when he hopped off their truck the night before inside their distribution centre.

"The truck was hauling pallets from Louisville and the raccoon crawled up in between them. When the truck unloaded at the distribution center in Boulder, the raccoon went with them. Employees looked but could not find him again until the evening when they saw him squished—upside down—between lumber along the wall.

"That’s when they called us. Supervisor Whittle spent about 45 minutes with employees trying to get him out peacefully since he was pretty agitated at that point, and we didn’t want anyone to get bitten.

"But when they slid the panel up, the raccoon slipped by Supervisor Whittle and took off through the center."

The statement continued: "As you can see from this video, it was team effort to keep everyone safe. We didn’t want anyone to get bitten and we wanted to get him safely into a kennel."

Whittle is quoted as saying: “He slid through the catch pole once. I said, ‘I got him! I don’t got him!’”

The statement added: "You can hear Supervisor Whittle telling folks to grab the kennel and not to touch the raccoon while she was in hot pursuit."

Whittle said: “That’s when the one employee showed up clutch with the kennel. I grabbed the trash can and the raccoon darted away from that right into the kennel."

The statement continued: "Supervisor Whittle then got the Louisville address where the truck had been and transported the raccoon back to his home."

Whittle said: “He had plenty of hiding spots and trees and dumpsters.”

She added: “And I hope he found his family and friends back in Louisville.”

The statement said: "Now that’s great public safety service for everyone—and every animal—involved. Good job Supervisor Whittle and distribution center employees!"