The Tuscaloosa Police Department have issued a request for help to unmask a Scooby-Doo costume-wearing criminal who stole cash from a convenience store.
The thief, who struck at the Quick Stop on Highway 82 last weekend, was caught on CCTV cameras emptying coins from gaming machines while dressed as the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon character.
At one point the suspect removed his Scooby-Doo hood — but unlike in the show, the thief had come prepared: he was also wearing a balaclava obscuring his face underneath. Zoinks.
Police say the suspect appears to be a white male, around 5’9, and have appealed for information on the villain’s true identity. (Isn’t it always an old guy in a disguise?)
Images posted to the Tuscaloosa Police Department Facebook page show the criminal stomping around the convenience store at 3.45am in the morning. Cops stated he “took cash and coins, but no snacks.” What, no munchies?
In a follow-up comment, the department posted a photo of the Scooby gang’s infamous Mystery Machine van parked outside their headquarters, and jokingly stated: “We’ve questioned the owners of the vehicle, but no solid leads yet. Continue to be on the lookout for shady caretakers and don’t meddle if you see the suspect.”
Perhaps this is all viral marketing for the new live-action Scooby-Doo series in production at Netflix?
Earlier this year, the streamer confirmed that after three movies and a dozen cartoon series, Scooby-Doo would get a “modern reimagining” as a live-action series. The show will follow teens Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and Freddy (yes, Freddy) as they investigate a “supernatural murder” at a summer camp, with the help of their “very special dog.”
Image credit: Tuscaloosa Police Department
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
