I imagine when most kids dream about becoming a police officer, they envision a life of hunting down the bad guy, helping their communities, and dealing with some seriously heavy situations. But much like any other job I’ve had, you think you’re signing up for one role, and really, it is a myriad of different things to deal with. Sometimes, those encounters are silly and quick, while others are just … wacky. The crew on call for the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina definitely experienced the latter this week. People recently reported that the sheriff’s office shared a hilarious call it received about handling a rather unusual break-in.
It wasn’t an armed robber at the home but a piggy thief who had a hankering for some snacks. The pig, whose name is Penelope, was caught breaking into a home in the Ellenboro area. According to the social media post shared by deputies, Penelope “showed zero fear, maximum confidence, and the motive seemed to be finding snacks. After a short standoff involving a pack of crackers and some highly questionable negotiations, deputies successfully convinced the sus-pig-ious individual to surrender.”
Authorities reported that the pig was taken into “custody” with little resistance and brought to Rutherford County Animal Control Services, which is operated by Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue. They were able to locate the owners, and “no court date” is pending.
“Moments like this remind us that community policing is not always lights and sirens. Sometimes it is patience. Sometimes it is laughter. And sometimes it is arresting a pig for breaking and entering,” deputies wrote in the post.
Officers noted that the kids on scene found the incident hilarious, as did folks online in the comments section of the post.
“I am cracklin’ up. I bet it was no PIG deal .to get that bacon in the car. We love our police officers. They go where they are needed,” quipped one commenter.
“I knew my ex had warrants. A couple days late for Valentine’s Day, but thanks for the community service,” joked another person.
“Have the deputy’s ears stop ringing yet? I’ve had pet pigs. They take great offense at having things done and restraint of any kind. They are LOUD,” empathized someone else.
Overall, the incident was a nice reminder that no matter what the day throws your way, there is a way to handle it.
