Thieving cat returns from nightly prowls with hoard of stolen goods

A real-life cat burglar returns from his nightly prowls with a hoard of stolen goods, including pants, jumpers, dusters, food, knickers and bras. Norris, a two-year-old tabby, comes home every morning with a host of items stolen from neighbour’s gardens, washing lines and even homes after sneaking in through cat flaps. He first started pilfering from local residents around a year ago, dragging food taken from bins through his cat flap. But his crime spree soon escalated and he started stealing bras, knickers, pants, T-shirts, dusters, gloves, dish cloths and boxer shorts.

He has also come back with unopened tube of gravy paste, a German sausage, baby clothes and someone’s running kit – and even a bath mat and towel set. Norris has amassed such a huge pile of knickers his owners have red-facedly delivered letters to residents admitting they may have of some of their property. Norris brings most of his hoard through the cat flap – but if it can’t fit through he leaves it on the mat outside. Owners Richard and Sophie Windsor, of Bedminster, Bristol, reckon Norris is trawling washing lines for his ill-gotten gains.



Richard, 26, said: “He was perfectly well behaved up until the age of one, then he started to turn to a life of petty crime. He first started bringing things in from the recycling bins when he was about one. At first it was just the odd thing – but over the last four months, he has really started to up his game. He brings his stolen items in and then meows and meows to announce he is back so we will go and see what he has brought in. Sometimes he will go out multiple times during one night.” The couple are now trying to reunite the items with their owners after collecting a huge stash of Norris’ stolen goodies in a special cat swag bag.

They delivered letters explaining Norris’ naughty habit, appealing to anyone who was missing items from their washing line to get in touch. The couple are trying new tactics in a bid to stop Norris in his tracks. Richard said: “We have not taken the step of going to an animal behaviourist but we have started to ignore him when he comes in meowing at night with his goodies. By ignoring him when he arrives and tries to wake us up, we hope he will stop doing it. There are lots of other cats in the area which I guess means there is not much wildlife around to hunt. So Norris chooses to steal stuff instead to pass the time.”