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OKLAHOMA CITY — A pair of snack-hungry masked bandits broke into the state Capitol late Wednesday, rummaging through a state senator's office and wandering down a hallway before they were apprehended.

Two young raccoons made an unexpected visit to state Sen. Patrick Anderson's second-floor office in an apparent search for food.

“I came in this morning and everything in my cabinet was all strewn about,” said Kathie Darr, executive assistant to Anderson, R-Enid. “Stuff was hanging out. It was sort of a mess. I thought someone had ransacked my cabinet.”

Darr said she stores food items in the cabinet.

“Well, apparently, last night around 8 p.m. or so the cleaning crews were working on the second floor in the Senate offices,” said Malia Bennett, Senate communications director. “They were making their way down one end of the hallway and then back to where a restroom was, and they discovered a couple of raccoons there.”

After raiding the office of Sen. Patrick Anderson, the raccoons were wandered down a hallway at the state Capitol. Courtesy

Cameras on the second floor captured the intruders making their way down a hallway. They apparently stopped to view themselves in a mirror before continuing.

“I think they were looking for something to snack on probably,” Bennett said.

The raccoons were locked in a bathroom by a cleaning crew at the state Capitol on Aug. 17. Courtesy

Animal control removed the four-legged furballs from the building.

“I was told they were given a verbal warning and released,” Bennett said.

After the raccoons were locked into a bathroom at the state Capitol, an animal control officer was able to capture them without incident. Courtesy

It was not immediately clear how the critters entered the building, but it wasn’t the first time. Other animals to make unexpected entrances include birds, squirrels and a wayward possum, Bennett said.

“I understand this is the first time anyone can remember a pair of raccoons getting into the building like that,” Bennett said.

Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465 Barbara.Hoberock@tulsaworld.com

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