Police in Columbus, Ohio, arrested a man who allegedly broke into multiple stores, including a pet store, and was later found to have a pair of hamsters in his leopard print pants. Matthew Pancake, 31, was arrested on charges of breaking and entering and vandalism.
The bizarre incident unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday, July 9, 2024, when police responded to an alert from the security system at the Roosters restaurant near Hilliard, Ohio. Upon arriving at the scene, officers retraced the suspect's steps and discovered a broken dog cage at a nearby Petland store.
Ohio Man Found Sleeping on Bench with Hamsters in Leopard Print Onesie
Surveillance footage from inside Petland showed that several glass windows had been smashed, and the owner of the store told local media that the suspect had let 15 animals out of their cages before fleeing.
Officers then proceeded to a nearby Famous Footwear shoe store, which had also been broken into. According to authorities, Pancake allegedly stole a pair of boots from the store, leaving behind a trail of knocked-down boxes.
Ohio Man Found Sleeping on Bench with Hamsters in Leopard Print Onesie
A 911 caller reported seeing the suspect sleeping on a bench while wearing leopard-print clothing. When officers arrived at the location, they found Pancake and proceeded to arrest him.
During a search of Pancake's pants, officers discovered shards of glass, a dog collar, and two hamsters. One officer exclaimed, "Yeah, definitely animal abuse."
Ohio Man Found Sleeping on Bench with Hamsters in Leopard Print Onesie
Out of concern for Pancake's safety, another officer asked if he had any other animals inside him, but the suspect did not respond.
Pancake was subsequently taken to the Franklin County jail and charged with breaking and entering and vandalism. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 19.
Ohio Man Found Sleeping on Bench with Hamsters in Leopard Print Onesie
The two hamsters found in Pancake's pants were taken into protective custody by animal control officers. The pet store owner expressed relief that the animals had been recovered and thanked the police for their quick response.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and have not yet released any information about Pancake's motives or any potential mental health issues that may have contributed to his behavior.
