December 25, 2015 — Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Most pet owners worry about their cats bringing home the occasional mouse. But one family in Ipswich had a much stranger problem—their cat kept stealing from the neighbors.
Theo, a Siamese cross, had already earned a reputation as the neighborhood’s “cat burglar” after repeatedly returning home with items that clearly didn’t belong to him. His collection included Christmas decorations, gardening gloves, children’s toys, pens, phone charging cables, and even a tiny body warmer.
Just when his owner thought Theo had finally given up his life of crime, he started a brand-new stealing spree.
This time, the feline returned home carrying toy food—including a pineapple, an aubergine (eggplant), cheese, fish, and even a small basket to carry them in.
Embarrassed owner Rachael Drouet created humorous flyers for the neighborhood, apologizing for Theo’s unusual hobby and asking anyone missing the items to contact her so she could return them.
“I get tired of knocking on neighbors’ doors saying, ‘Me again,'” she admitted.
The story quickly spread across Britain, with many people amused by Theo’s unstoppable determination to collect random treasures from nearby homes.
Although Theo never seemed interested in valuable items, his strange collection and repeat offenses earned him the title of one of Britain’s funniest feline thieves.
Fortunately, unlike most burglars, Theo’s crimes usually ended with every stolen item safely returned to its rightful owner.
Direct Article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-34993079
