Police officers probably take enough grief about frequenting doughnut shops without any help from Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate.

Seriously, though, did Tate and his friend expect to lift maple bars without police knowledge?

The story about authorities catching Tate inside a doughnut shop sounds less troubling given context provided in this Associated Press account and from Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times. The shop is apparently downstairs from where Tate lives and Tate's friend had stolen a couple maple bars, which the receiver helped polish off.

The story's tone becomes more mischievous than creepy given that context. Officers apparently agreed, explaining why they warned Tate instead of citing him.

I put in a call to the police department that issued the warning, mostly to find out how someone can get into a business at 3 a.m. without breaking the law. A public information officer did not immediately return my call. Perhaps she was making a doughnut run.

UPDATE: A police spokeswoman confirms there was no break-in. Bakers were working and a door was unlocked. A baker called police, but the shop owner declined to press charges.