Accused Catnapper May Pay The Piper
Police: Woman stole, abandoned neighbor's cat
By MARCUS RILEY
Updated 9:00 AM CST, Sat, Jun 27, 2009
So what would you do if you didn't like your neighbor's cat? Have a calm conversation between adults with the owner? Call animal control? Or abduct the animal and dump it in the boonies?
Police say a 45-year-old Batavia woman chose the latter option, and are mulling charges against her.
Deputy Batavia Police Chief Dennis Thomas said the woman might be charged with misdemeanor theft rather than felony property damage and misdemeanor animal cruelty, as originally intended.
The 9-year-old cat, named Linus, disappeared some time around May 28.
His owners, Matt and Jody Lay, contacted police after a neighbor reportedly told several people on her block that she stole the cat and left it somewhere near Maple Park or Lily Lake because she felt it was killing too many birds and chipmunks. The cat is still missing.
Officials say a decision on the case should be made next week, according to the Daily Herald. The lesser charge is being considered because it would be harder to prove a felony.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago
First Published: Jun 27, 2009 8:37 AM CST
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