SLIDESHOW - Rab’s been nabbed!

McAuley Multimedia.. Rab the Racoon who went Missing in Ballymena in early september has been taken under lock and key while on the run in Ballycastle this morning.. Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley Multimedia

Police officers on the beat in Ballycastle today (Wednesday) got a call with a difference from a member of the public who found what is believed to be Rab the escapee raccoon from Ballymena in their garage. PSNI officers Tony McConway and Brian Walker made their way to call to find Rab on his own beat on Moyle Road in Ballycastle!

The raccoon was first spotted in Ann Street a few weeks ago and was then glimpsed and photographed by three different members of the public as recently as two days ago at the Castle street car park in the town.

The PSNI called on the Moyle District Council Dog Wardens for help and they managed to capture Rab in a cage.

He was taken to police custody in Ballycastle under the watch of Sgt Lorraine Connor.

“This is a prisoner with a difference and no one tried to handcuff him! He is quite active and is waiting to escape from his cage again as he feels more at home on the streets than at Ballycastle PSNI Station,” said a source.

Intrepid photographer Steven McAuley was on hand to capture footage of this on-the-run fugitive...