Monkey Escapes Owner at Halloween Store in Texas

PLANO, Texas – Shoppers at a Spirit Halloween store were surprised on Monday night when a pet monkey escaped its owner and began swinging from the rafters. The incident occurred at the store located on 15th Street in Plano, prompting a call to the local police.

The Plano Police Department confirmed they received reports about the monkey running loose inside the store. Arlene Pinkston, who was shopping with her daughters, described the scene. “My daughter looked up and said, ‘What in the world?’ I replied, ‘Well, it’s got a diaper on, so I guess it is real,'” Pinkston said.

Video captured by Pinkston shows the monkey climbing poles and swinging through the store for over 30 minutes. Store employee Jimmy Harris stated the monkey became frightened by an animatronic display and fled from its owner. “It was entertaining,” said Harris. “A lot of people just stood and watched it, and we had kids trying to catch it.”

Police arrived later and confirmed they saw the monkey swinging from the rafters, still wearing its diaper. According to a police statement, the monkey’s owner was eventually able to entice it down with a cookie. “He observed the monkey swinging from the rafters wearing a diaper. Eventually, a cookie was offered to the monkey by the owner, and he was able to gain control of it,” the police said.

No injuries were reported, and the monkey did not pose a danger to shoppers, according to authorities. Spirit Halloween’s VP of Marketing, Lisa Barr, expressed gratitude for the quick response. “We’re grateful to our staff and local responders for handling the situation swiftly and safely,” Barr said.