Neil Boortz told this story a couple times on his radio talk show - I have no idea if its true - though he said it was. It sounds like something a good ole Georgia boy would do.
Seems many moons ago there were thugs stealing unattended luggage curbside at the Greyhound bus station in Atlanta (back when that mode of transportation was more common). They’d grab as much luggage as possible before making a hasty escape in a waiting car.
One victim’s husband decided to take matters in his own hand.
He somehow trapped a bobcat and put the live creature in a steamer trunk and left it outside the bus station where it was quickly commandeered by the waiting thieves.
The getaway car only got a couple blocks down the street before it emptied its passengers.
Raccoons would work too.