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Some alleged accomplices never get a choice.
Police say a Maryland man stole a 3-month-old kitten from a pet store, carried her into a nearby bank and asked an employee to hold the animal just moments before passing a teller a note demanding money, according to authorities and a local cat rescue group.
The kitten, named Magnolia, was safely recovered after Prince George’s County police arrested the suspect.
Beltsville Community Cats later made light of the bizarre episode on Facebook, joking that Magnolia’s brief “life of crime” had come to an end.
Magnolia, a 3-month-old tuxedo kitten, was found unharmed after police said a man took her from a Maryland pet store before trying to rob a nearby bank. (Beltsville Community Cats via Facebook)
Beltsville Community Cats described Magnolia as a “true purr machine.” Despite her unusual encounter with an attempted bank robbery, the 3-month-old kitten is still waiting to be adopted into a permanent home.
Security footage obtained by NBC Washington shows a man in a light-colored T-shirt and black beanie walking into Pet Supplies Plus on Baltimore Avenue, then leaving moments later with the black-and-white tuxedo kitten in his arms.
Witnesses told the outlet the man ran directly to the nearby PNC Bank in the same shopping center.
Stephanie Stullich, with Beltsville Community Cats rescue, said she received a frantic phone call around 10:30 a.m. from pet store employees reporting Magnolia had been taken from the adoption area.
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Magnolia, a 3-month-old tuxedo kitten, remains available for adoption through Beltsville Community Cats after her unusual role in a failed bank robbery. (Petfinder / Beltsville Community Cats)
“I immediately saw all of these police cars, and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a heck of a response for a stolen cat,'” Stullich told NBC Washington. “But then I realized they all were going down to the bank.”
According to Stullich, police officers later told her the suspect walked into the bank holding Magnolia before asking an employee, “Can you hold this?” He then allegedly handed a teller a note demanding cash.
Prince George’s County police confirmed they took a man into custody at the bank.
Magnolia, a 3-month-old tuxedo kitten, was found safe after police arrested a man accused of stealing her before attempting to rob a Maryland bank. (Beltsville Community Cats via Facebook; Petfinder)
Pet Supplies Plus manager Aaron Kurkowski told NBC Washington the suspect had visited the store nearly every day for the past couple of weeks and routinely headed straight for Magnolia.
“He just went right to her and ran right on out,” Kurkowski said.
The rescue later posted on Facebook that Magnolia was recovered safely after the rescue said she bonded with the bank manager during the ordeal.
“The robbery was unsuccessful, the suspect was arrested, and Magnolia was found safe and sound,” the organization wrote.
The rescue said Magnolia remains available for adoption and describes the 3-month-old tuxedo kitten as affectionate and playful, adding that she loves cuddles, adventures and following her people around. Because she’s so social and energetic, the group recommends she be adopted into a home with another young, playful cat or alongside one of its other cats.
“She’s looking for a law-abiding citizen with a lot of love in their heart,” Stullich told NBC Washington.
