Bank robbery suspect allegedly steals kitten, asks employee to hold it before demanding cash
Not every accomplice gets a say in the matter.
A Maryland man allegedly stole a 3-month-old kitten from a pet store, carried her into a nearby bank and asked an employee to hold the animal moments before handing a teller a note demanding cash, according to police and a local cat rescue.
The kitten, named Magnolia, was found unharmed after Prince George's County police arrested the suspect.
Beltsville Community Cats later joked on Facebook that her brief "life of crime" was over.
The 3-month-old kitten, described by Beltsville Community Cats as a "true purr machine," is still looking for a forever home after her unlikely brush with an attempted bank robbery.
Security camera video obtained by NBC Washington shows a man wearing a light-colored T-shirt and black beanie entering Pet Supplies Plus on Baltimore Avenue before running out seconds later carrying the black-and-white tuxedo kitten.
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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"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.
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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.