Man who stole a kitten and used her as an accomplice in a bank robbery, forcing staff to hold her while he demanded money, gets caught, and the felonious feline is back to the shelter, safe and looking for a forever home

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 23, 2026 1:30 PM EDT

Cats are our kryptonite, and this robber used that common knowledge to his advantage. 

Shameless behavior. That is all that we have to say about this incident. We cannot even imagine how the idea to do something like this would cross someone's mind. Not only did this man steal a kitten from a store, he then took the kitten to a bank to commit felony robbery with her as an accessory, and also handed the kitten to one of the employees while demanding money from another. He got caught. The kitten is fine. But we're upset anyway. Because we think that this would have worked on us. 

We would have folded like cheap suits in this situation. Present us with an itty bitty kitty in need of help, and our brain would shut down. We would do anything for that cat, including but not limited to giving up all of the money in a bank. We would do it. We would be ashamed about it, but we would do it, because our one and only priority in that situation would be protecting that innocent kitten. And the reason that this man chose to do this is because he knew. He understood that kittens are our kryptonite. 

Of course, maybe the cat wasn't quite that innocent. We do know that our cats commit crimes in our homes all the time. And the shelter that she was returned to seems to agree. As they say: "Now that her brief 'life of crime' is behind her, Magnolia is back to doing what she does best: stealing hearts." She's still looking for a forever home, as far as we know. But we're not worried about her. Now that she's internet famous, it's just a matter of time. She's going to be fending off potential adopters before she knows it.

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  • 01
    Beltsville Community Cats July 13 at 11:57 PM. Catnapper's Bank Robbery Attempt Foiled!
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 02
    Register Cam Pickup Delivery Autoship 10:28:14 AM EDT
    via NBCwashington
  • 03
    Register Cam Pickup Delivery Autoship 10:28:15 AM EDT
    via NBCwashington
  • 04
    Magnolia, our sweet 3.5-month-old tuxedo kitten, had quite the adventure today after being stolen from her adoption habitat at Pet Supplies Plus in Beltsville.
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 05
    The man who took her walked across the parking lot to a nearby PNC Bank branch and tried to use her as an accessory in his attempted robbery. He asked the bank manager to hold the kitten while he wrote a note, then handed the note to a teller demanding all the cash.
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 06
    Thankfully, the robbery was unsuccessful, the suspect was arrested, and Magnolia was found safe and sound in the bank manager's office, where the two had bonded over their shared ordeal.
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 07
    Now that her brief "life of crime" is behind her, Magnolia is back to doing what she does best: stealing hearts.
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 08
    She's still looking for her forever home, where the only things she'll be stealing are treats, toys, and cuddles.
    via Beltsville Community Cats

  • This is double crime. Maybe triple. Breaking into a store, stealing a kitten, then trying to commit robbery. We don't know what the punishment is for this. All we know is that we need this man to not be around any cats anymore. Ever. 

  • 09
    le Tanks Critter Reptile
    via Beltsville Community Cats
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    D
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10649289728
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10649289984
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 13
    Thank you be s
    via Beltsville Community Cats
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10649290752
    via Beltsville Community Cats

  • Yeah, we're not worried about her at all. With an adorable face like this, this little one is going to be adopted in no time. 

  • 15
    Mia Schoolcraft-Nadal She needs to be put in witness protection (aka, a nice home!!) asap!!!
    via Mia Schoolcraft-Nadal
  • 16
    Linda McConahy Just when you think you have heard it all, Where do they get these ideas from?
    via Linda McConahy
  • 17
    Karen Lear Mackey My husband was wondering why the police cars were at the bank. Mystery solved. So glad the kitten and no one else was hurt.
    via Karen Lear Mackey
  • 18
    Arthur Adams I have to check - are you sure Jack and Colby were not leading lives of crime before we adopted them from you? (Okay, they did steal our hearts, but that's different.)
    via Arthur Adams
  • 19
    Patrick Kirby I'd visited her twice. I'm so glad she's OK. She's such a sweetheart.
    via Patrick Kirby
  • 20
    Belliveau Raquel I just saw this story and are interested!! I have 3 already and want a baby! I will be calling your shelter hopefully she is still available
    via Belliveau Raquel

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aww pics wholesome bank cat adorable cute cute cats Cats robbery
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