The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested a man on Monday morning, July 14th, 2026, who allegedly stole a kitten and took the animal with him to a PNC bank branch in Beltsville, Maryland, in an attempted robbery. The stolen cat, identified as Magnolia, a three-and-a-half-month-old tuxedo kitten, was taken from her adoption habitat at Beltsville’s Pet Supplies Plus store.

According to a Facebook post by the rescue shelter Beltsville Community Cats, the suspect carried Magnolia across the parking lot to the bank and "tried to use her as an accessory in [an] attempted robbery." Stephanie Stullich of Beltsville Community Cats was alerted to the incident by a pet store employee.

The police department confirmed that the cat was returned after the suspect's arrest. No injuries were reported during the incident. Authorities have declined to release the suspect's name or further details, stating the case remains under investigation. Magnolia was still waiting to be adopted as of Monday, July 14th, 2026.

This unusual case has been noted as one of the more bizarre crimes reported in the United States.

Sources