Last Updated on October 13, 2025 by Matt Staff
Some headlines write themselves, and sometimes animals do the writing. These troublemaking critters didn’t just act wild; they crossed the line and wandered straight into the police blotter.
Scroll on for 20 quick stories of animals behaving like actual suspects.
1. Kea parrots stealing car wipers
In the 1970s in the New Zealand Southern Alps, kea learned to rip off rubber seals and wipers, and park rangers had to warn tourists. The birds fot a reputation for curiosity and petty vandalism.
2. Seagulls shoplifters
In the 80s, UK seaside towns began to see gulls grab pasties and chips in broad daylight, and shopkeepers put up signs begging people not to feed them. The birds ignored both the signs and the stares.
3. Squirrels hoarding stolen goods in attics
Back in the 70s, homeowners started to find rings, keys, and candy stashed in insulation and attics. Local cops used to log “missing items” as wildlife work. Mischief turned into a neighborhood mystery, and nowadays, attics are also filled with nuts.
4. Dogs nabbed for store snack thefts
Strays wandered into corner shops, and some learned to sprint out with sausages or chips. Clerks laughed, and then they called the police.
5. “Urban” foxes
In the 90s, as cities spread in the UK, foxes learned bin night better than most residents, and councils started fielding late-hour complaints. The animals adapted fast, and the rules followed slowly.
6. Baboons raiding cars
Three decades ago, along South Africa’s Cape roads, baboons began to open doors and unzip bags. Rangers had to run traffic like crowd control, and nowadays tourists have learned to lock up or lose lunch.
7. Raccoon burglars
Night-vision cams caught the masked bandits working cat door and pantries, and animal control got the late calls. Trash night became their holiday.
8. Bears breaking into homes and stores
Since the 90s, mountain towns logged break-ins through windows and car doors, and wildlife officers tagged “repeat offenders”. Coolers, fridges, and candy shelves turned into the crime scene.
9. Drunk moose on fermented apples
Scandinavian police kept rescuing moose that got tipsy on fallen fruit, and fences paid the price. The reports read like small-town comedy.
10. Elephants breaking in for food
In India and Sri Lanka, elephants pushed into grain stores and houses, and villagers filed real police reports. The animals went where the food and smell led.
11. “Cocaine Bear”
In 1985, a black bear found a smuggler’s dropped cocaine in Georgia, and the bizarre overdose turned into a legend. The case kept resurfacing because it felt too wild to be real.
12. Goats detained for vandalism
In the early 2000s, loose goats chewed gardens and dented cars. Officers sometimes penned them like rowdy party guests. Owners arrived, and the citations followed.
13. Pigeons used for prison smuggling
Since the 90s, guards have intercepted birds with tiny pouches, and the photos have always made the headlines. The method was old, but the ingenuity kept surprising people.
14. Cats couriering contraband to prisons
Both in Mexico and in Russia, officers found packets taped to collars, and wardens posted the images as warnings. The cats didn’t talk, and the stories wrote themselves.
15. Donkeys “jailed” after street damage
In parts of Latin America, donkeys that wrecked gardens or cars landed in makeshift pens, and the custody pictures went viral. Owners paid the fines and collected their rides home.
16. Monkeys pickpocketing tourists
Temple troops in India and Southeast Asia learned to grab sunglasses and wallets, and they bargained for food like pros. Visitors have learned to be fast or pay twice.
17. Macaques trading stolen items for snacks
In Bali and Jaipur, macaques snatched phones and traded them back for food, and researchers called it “bartering”. Police posted signs because the monkeys didn’t read them.
18. Coyotes swiping shoes from porches
European and U.S. suburbs reported trails of single sneakers, and doorbell cams finally solved it. The animals loved the leather and the chase.
19. Birds snatching wallets
Kites and clever crows swooped over open-air markets, and stunned shoppers filed theft reports. Street vendors learned to look up as well as around.
20. Sea lions raiding fish markets
Docks in the Americas and Japan saw bold sea lions slide onto stalls, and officers herded them back like oversized customers. The haul was fresh, and the lesson took a while.
Explore more historical content:
If these four-legged “perps” made your day, keep the grins going with these 20 Photos That Inspired Historic Levels of Cringe, or these 21 Packaging Fails That Accidentally Turned Into Jokes. You can also enjoy a good laugh with these 20 Halloween Signs That Deserve a Candy Reward for Effort Alone.
