Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Photo: Raccoon Breaks Into Brooklyn Apartment
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 22, 2013
Modified Jan 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 22, 2013
Modified Jan 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photo by Brandon McNeil
This morning a Brooklyn man posted this photo on Reddit, adding, "Don't really expect this kind of thing to happen to me in the middle of Brooklyn." We contacted the poster, Brandon McNeil of Bed-Stuy, who tells us the break-in occurred in October around 11 p.m. Here is his tale, which he lived to tell:
"We had the windows open with screens in. I was in another room when I noticed a loud bang from my bedroom. I thought my cat knocked something off a dresser so I went to see what happened. As I walked into the room my cat was at the door with his back arched, clearly scared. That's when I looked up to see what had happened and saw the intruder.
The raccoon and I looked at each other for a few seconds, and i started to wave my jacket at it. Then I started to yell at it. The raccoon seemed confused and wasn't moving for a while, but eventually turned around and walked back out the window.
Though at that point the raccoon had a taste of domesticity, and McNeil says it immediately climbed the fire escape and attempted to break in the neighbor's apartment. At this point, it's unclear what happened—maybe the raccoon is now living upstairs.
So what do you do if a raccoon breaks in to your apartment? (It's happened before, and it'll happen again.) If this man's story tells us anything, it's probably best to stand your ground, reach for your cell phone for photo documentation that you'll later upload to various social media platforms, and if it's still there reach for your handy raccoon brochure, or call 311.
Tagged
animals
apartment
intrusion
raccoon
raccoons
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Why New Yorkers should care about bats beyond spooky season
As Bat Week begins, state wildlife officials urge New Yorkers to protect bats, which play an important role in the environment.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 25, 2026 at 6:44 p.m. ET
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
Early voting may have kicked off in New York this weekend, but Serbian immigrants seeking to vote had a much tighter window on Sunday.
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
News
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
Early voting may have kicked off in New York this weekend, but Serbian immigrants seeking to vote had a much tighter window on Sunday.
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
Retired NYPD detective charged in George Washington Bridge killing out on $1M bail
By
Michael Sol Warren
Suicides decline in NYC, but inequities persist across groups
By
Jill Webb
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
By
Samuel King
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .