Home panic alarm set off by remote-stealing monkey, security co. says

It’s enough to drive someone bananas.

A monkey broke into a home in South Africa and stole a TV remote, causing a home panic alarm to sound the day after Christmas and prompting several security units to respond and hunt down the plucky primate, according to security company Mi7 National Group.

“Under the impression that the client must have been under distress, several units were immediately dispatched to the home,” the Pietermaritzburg, South Africa-based security firm wrote in a Thursday Facebook post. 

But instead of human home burglars, the homeowner informed dispatched units that a monkey had broken into the Northdale abode, nabbed the homeowner’s panic button remote and repeatedly triggered an emergency response.

The monkey set off a home panic alarm in which several security units responded to. Mi7 National Group/Facebook

“It then bolted from the premises, pressing the panic button several times as it hurried away, remote in hand,” the firm recounted. “The panic signals only stopped once the monkey was out of range of the receiver.” 

The homeowner turned down the help of the security units. Mi7 National Group/Facebook

In an unusual turn of events, the homeowner declined to have security units chase down the thief and allowed the monkey get away with his loot, Mi7 said. 

“A great laugh was had, and a new panic button is currently on the way,” the firm added.