Police arrest suspect accused of breaking into west Columbus pet store where several animals were set loose - Matthew Pancake was captured with hamsters in his pants

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Police arrest suspect accused of breaking into west Columbus pet store where several animals were set loose​

The suspect, who police identified as Matthew Pancake, was found sleeping near the Big Lots on Roberts Road. Officers found four hamsters in his pants.
Author: 10TV Web Staff
Published: 6:00 AM EDT July 9, 2024
Updated: 1:06 PM EDT July 9, 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus police arrested a suspect Tuesday morning who they believe broke into several businesses on the city’s west side, including a pet store where several animals were released.
Officers with the Columbus Division of Police were called to Roosters at 5225 Nike Station Way near Hilliard just after 3 a.m. Police were notified of a burglary alarm going off.

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Credit: WBNS-10TV
Officers discovered that the restaurant was broken into. Detectives obtained video evidence showing a man with long hair wearing leopard-print pajamas inside the restaurant. It is unclear whether anything was taken from the restaurant.
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Credit: WBNS-10TV
About 100 yards away, officers found that the Petland store was also broken into, and several animals were seen running around in the parking lot. Police recovered two dogs, multiple birds, a hamster and at least two bunnies.

Animals recovered after being set loose when suspect broke into west Columbus pet store​

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Columbus Division of Police
A bird was recovered after it was released when a suspect broke into a pet store in west Columbus on Tuesday.
Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert said officers were still searching for a couple of bunnies and birds and a ferret.
“One day, you’re running after a suspect. The next day, you’re running after ferrets and bunnies,” he said.
While searching the area, officers discovered the Famous Footwear store on Hilliard Rome Road was broken into. Albert said it is believed that the suspect is connected to the break-ins at the three businesses.
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Credit: WBNS-10TV
Officers also found blood at the scene and believed that the suspect was injured.
Albert said the suspect, who police identified as Matthew Pancake, was found sleeping near the Big Lots on Roberts Road at 4:47 a.m. Officers arrested him and discovered there were four hamsters in his pants.
Pancake was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries. He is charged with breaking and entering.
Editor's Note: Columbus police initially provided an incorrect name for the suspect. Police later corrected his name to Matthew Pancake.
 
When you release animals from pet stores and ranches, they can't fend for themselves and they're going to die if they're not recaptured.

That being said, a dog would have a better life roaming than stuck in a cramped animal cell all day with little stimulation and a lot of frustration not being able to interact with all the interesting new humans they smell. Fuck pet stores that sell live dogs. They're usually all from amish farmers that pump the bitches for years until their vagina or uterus prolapses, then they dump them in a field to die.

Not only that, but the pet shops are selling the puppies at prices of $1-6k, meaning they're going to sit there for many days since most people aren't willing to dump that load of money onto a dog upfront and backyard breeders can produce the same puppy for cheaper. And no matter whether you get them from the pet shop or the BYB, they're both likely not going to have been selected for personality, so you can still get an ill-tempered dog or one that's going to have lotta medical issues down the line.
 
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This guy has been mentally ill for long time, apparently he had recently been released from jail before this happened.

Grew up with him at a point, but he fell off deep into schizophrenia and drugs.
After seeing this I realized he deleted his Facebook, which would also jive with turbo schizo behavior.

Personally convinced he thought he was rescuing the animals in his schizo way, and the gerbils were in his pants to make sure they didn’t get lost.
Because schizo brain makes sense.

And yes, leopard onesie because turbo schizo great decisions.

It’s an interesting individual where the least weird thing is being named and nicknamed Pancake.

Has a sizable run in the clerk of courts record search, guy ruined his mind with drugs.

Edit: he’s not a piece of shit, he’s just incredibly crazy.
He used to be so nice in a traditional way, eccentric but easy going.
Now it’s something different.
Could barely interpret one of his last messages to me because it was disjointed crazy talk.
 
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Thank you for posting this in community happenings, I know you got a lot of "late" reactions, but holy shit this thing is hilarious
I don't know why half+ are late. Like, I guess? But no one else talked about it in happenings and it was obviously worth bringing up.
 
I don't know why half+ are late. Like, I guess? But no one else talked about it in happenings and it was obviously worth bringing up.
I think half of them were retardedly thinking "this was over a week ago therefore late". Whatever, they are retards, and a LOT was going on the last week that it doesn't shock me it would slip through the cracks. So like I said, I appreciate the post.

But you are right, if its NOT already posted (its not from what I can see) it was just people knee jerk reacting like dumbasses. Screw them, you reported something funny and noteworthy.
 
I think half of them were retardedly thinking "this was over a week ago therefore late". Whatever, they are retards, and a LOT was going on the last week that it doesn't shock me it would slip through the cracks. So like I said, I appreciate the post.

But you are right, if its NOT already posted (its not from what I can see) it was just people knee jerk reacting like dumbasses. Screw them, you reported something funny and noteworthy.
It was deleted.
Reason: Late.

Mother fucking it happened a week ago, and no one else posted about it.
 
Dogs living in pet stores have the worst of all worlds. I say set em free!

I'm surprised that pet shops still have dogs. It should be illegal. But puppy mills still aren't illegal. So it's probably never gonna end. I haven't seen any ones with dogs in ages. Pet Smart has cats but they are from shelters and rescues and are up for adoption. They don't breed the cats for the stores.

Also, Pancake? Is that a legit surname? I'm thinking no.
 
Mother fucking it happened a week ago, and no one else posted about it.
I don't understand though, to my understanding happenings is just to be like a soft community based "featured". I realize the event happened over a week ago, but I wouldn't of deleted the happening personally, unless someone ELSE posted a happening of it (Ive been in that position before, and yes, you don't want multiple posts of the same thing)

But thats the thing, I searched the happenings thread for "gerbil" and your post was the only one. So I don't think anyone else posted.

I guess it can't be undone, but I wouldn't of deleted it, even if it takes 60 some odd late reacts from idiots. At least I found the thread anyway. assuming it was your decision to delete, I'd learn from it, and next time, only delete IF someone else posted it.
 
Donut Operator did a video on this an it was both touching, the cops cooing over the puppies that got loose (I'm taking this one home!), and cringe inducing.

Giving us the immortal line;

"Sir, SIR! I need to ask for your own safety is there a hamster anywhere in your body?"

it was great
 
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