What animal is that? Costumed man robs Highway 530 store

Published 1:30 am Friday, December 14, 2018

ARLINGTON — A large mammal with pepper spray robbed a grocery store early Friday.

He was wearing a zip-up onesie costume when he rushed into the Trafton General Store around 3 a.m. in the 12100 block of Highway 530, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. In his right hand he held what looked like a pistol, and in his left he had a canister that looked like pepper spray.

Security footage captured the robbery. It was released Friday afternoon.

The man threw a blue bag on the counter.

“Put ’em up!” he shouted. “Go, go, go, now! … You call the cops, you’re a dead man. You better hurry up, now! Cash! Move it! Faster!”

At first deputies described the outfit as that of a giraffe — but it’s not clear what animal it was supposed to be. The brown outfit had a large tan oval on the belly, with fringe on the hood and what looks like a small pink tail. Underneath, he wore a dark hoodie. He wore gloves, too.

The man’s face was covered.

Security footage showed him leaving with a small stack of bills. A $1 bill appeared to be at the top of the stack.

Tips can be directed to the sheriff’s office at 425-388-3845.