Magnolia did not exactly volunteer to be part of the plan.
Police and a local cat rescue say a Maryland man allegedly took the 3-month-old kitten from a pet store, carried her into a nearby bank, and asked an employee to hold her shortly before passing a teller a note demanding money.
The kitten, named Magnolia, was later found safe and unharmed after Prince George’s County police arrested the suspect.
Beltsville Community Cats, the rescue connected to Magnolia, later made light of the bizarre ordeal on Facebook, joking that the kitten’s short-lived “life of crime” had come to an end.
The rescue describes the 3-month-old black-and-white kitten as a “true purr machine,” and despite her unusual brush with an attempted bank robbery, she is still waiting for a permanent home.
Security footage obtained by NBC Washington shows a man in a light-colored T-shirt and black beanie entering Pet Supplies Plus on Baltimore Avenue, then running out moments later with the black-and-white tuxedo kitten in his arms.
Witnesses told the station that the man headed straight to the nearby PNC Bank located in the same shopping center.
Stephanie Stullich of Beltsville Community Cats said she got an urgent call around 10:30 a.m. from pet store workers, who reported that Magnolia had been taken from the adoption area.
“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.
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.
