An Ohio man was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of breaking into multiple locations including a pet store, and officers discovered multiple hamsters in his pants.
The Columbus Division of Police said officers responded to a report of a break-in at the restaurant Roosters at 5225 Nike Station Way near Hilliard shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday. They found video that showed a man wearing leopard-print pajamas inside the restaurant.
Investigators learned a nearby Petland pet store was also broken into after discovering animals roaming free in the parking lot. Officers recovered multiple dogs, birds and rabbits at the scene. Officers also discovered a nearby Famous Footwear store had been broken into.
Officers found the man in leopard-print pajamas sleeping on a bench near a Big Lots store on Roberts Road at around 4:45 a.m.
Body-worn camera video of the arrest shows officers waking the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Matthew Pancake, and ordering him to get on the ground.
As officers handcuff and pat down Pancake, an officer discovers a small animal inside his pajama pants.
"Oh, God, there is a gerbil," an officer can be heard saying.
"There's multiple gerbils in his pants," an officer says, though the animals were later identified as hamsters. "Do you have any more gerbils on you?"
The four hamsters found in Pancake's pants were ultimately returned to the pet store.
Pancake was arrested and charged with breaking and entering and vandalism.
Lol, Out of Columbus Ohio. Police arrest a man named Pancake who has broken into a pet store and shoved hamsters and gerbils down his pants. This happened last night. pic.twitter.com/Nea7e0yxaW
— Paul (@WomanDefiner) July 10, 2024
--with reporting by TMX
