RCMP in Alberta have closed a case of a four-legged thief who made off with hot dogs meant for a barbecue. The Crowsnest Pass RCMP responded to a call on May 11 about a theft of barbecue goods. Upon arrival, officers discovered the suspect was a red fox, caught red-handed with its mouth full of hot dogs.
In a humorous Facebook post, the RCMP described the suspect as having red hair, being short in stature, and wearing a thick coat. Officers searched the area and located the fox trying to conceal the evidence. The victims decided not to press charges, so the perpetrator was released. The post included a photo of the fox and has garnered over 34,000 likes.
Social media users found the incident amusing, with comments about the high price of hot dogs making the theft almost grand larceny, and jokes about uninvited guests who eat too much and leave early. Experts note that with good weather, animals are recovering from winter and preparing to breed, making food sources scarce. Red foxes breed early in the year, so the stolen hot dogs may have fed the fox's kits.
