A white bunny rabbit named Ruby Red disappeared from an Atwoods store in Yukon on July 14, and police say they have images of the woman they believe walked out with her tucked inside a purse. The Yukon Police Department is now asking the community for help identifying the suspect in what investigators are treating as a theft case with an unusual twist: the missing property is a live animal that one Atwoods employee considered a favorite pet.
According to the Yukon Police Department, the woman skipped the checkout entirely and tucked Ruby Red into her purse before leaving the store in a black GMC Yukon on July 14, as reported by KFOR. The store in question is Atwoods Store #66 at 1670 Shedeck Circle in Yukon, one of more than 75 locations the family-owned chain operates across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, according to Wikipedia. Ruby Red was described as an Atwoods employee's favorite rabbit, per the station's report.
Police Release Images, Ask Public for Help
Yukon police have released alleged images of the suspect and are urging anyone who recognizes her to come forward. Community members are encouraged to contact Yukon Police Investigations at 405-350-5508 if they can identify the individual seen in the photos. The department oversees the case out of its public safety headquarters at 100 S. Ranchwood Boulevard, a facility that also houses the city's Emergency Operations Center and dispatch services, according to the City of Yukon.
Yukon is a suburban city of roughly 25,500 residents in Canadian County, situated about 14 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City along historic Route 66, per Data USA. The city generally maintains low reported crime rates compared with surrounding communities in the Oklahoma City metro area, which helps explain why an odd theft case involving a live rabbit has drawn extra attention locally.
What Charges Could Look Like Under Oklahoma Law
Oklahoma law treats retail theft under $1,000 in value as petit larceny under Title 21 Section 1731, with penalties that can include up to a year in county jail and fines up to $1,000 for a second offense, according to the Wirth Law Office. That $1,000 felony threshold was set by Oklahoma voters through State Question 780 in 2016. Separately, Oklahoma criminal law also includes specialized statutory provisions under Title 21 that govern the theft of animals, distinguishing it from general petit larceny, according to the Urbanic Law Firm, meaning investigators and prosecutors may need to sort out which framework applies to Ruby Red's case.
Oklahoma law also allows prosecutors to aggregate multiple retail thefts committed by the same suspect within a 90-day window, which can push a cumulative total over $1,000 and elevate charges to a single felony, per the Lai & Turner Law Firm. That aggregation rule was added to state criminal code by the Oklahoma legislature in 2018. It is not yet known whether prosecutors intend to pursue charges under the animal theft provisions, standard petit larceny, or another statute in this case.
A Family-Owned Chain With Roots in Enid
Atwoods Ranch & Home Goods was founded in 1960 in Enid, Oklahoma, by Wilbur and Fern Atwood, and the company remains family-owned today under CEO Brian Atwood, the founders' grandson, alongside fourth-generation family member Preston Atwood, according to Idea Ranch. The chain, which employs roughly 3,000 workers across its multi-state footprint, has built a reputation for the kind of hands-on, homegrown culture that made a shop pet like Ruby Red part of the store's identity in the first place.
No arrest has been announced, and the Yukon Police Department has not released the suspect's identity as the search for leads continues. Anyone with information is asked to reach Yukon Police Investigations at the number above.
