Deputies Recover Trailer Stolen From Petaluma, Release 'Masked Bandit'

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A woman was cited on suspicion of possession of stolen property Monday in Santa Rosa but deputies determined that a raccoon riding with her was not her partner in crime, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said.

It happened around 12:15 p.m. Monday when detectives with the sheriff's Property/Narcotics Unit and the Sonoma County Auto Theft Task Force saw a dump trailer with a false license plate in the 800 block of Hopper Avenue, the sheriff's office said in a social media post.

When detectives took a closer look they determined the trailer was reported stolen from Petaluma more than a year ago — in April 2021.

The trailer was hooked up to a car being driven by a woman later identified as Corey Crabtree, 37, of Santa Rosa, who had an outstanding warrant from San Bernardino for theft-related charges, the sheriff's office said.

In a search of the car she was driving, they found a baby raccoon in the passenger seat.

"They contacted the tiny passenger and determined it was not involved in the theft," the sheriff's office said. "When asked about her associate, Crabtree said she found the raccoon and was going to care for it."

The sheriff's office issued Crabtree a citation on suspicion of possession of stolen property.

"Since the raccoon was innocent, detectives handed it over to wildlife rescue so it can get a new lease on life."