UPDATE: Bodega Kitten Returned, Catnapper Arrested
Feb. 28, 2019, 9:32 a.m.
The kitten belongs to the owners' 10-year-old autistic son.
A beloved bodega kitten was stolen from a Bronx store, and the NYPD is on the case. UPDATE: Luna was returned and the suspect was charged with petit larceny. [More details below]
The 50th Precinct issued a "WANTED" poster, noting that the purrpetrator is wanted for larceny at Ismael Gourmet Deli at 126 West 238th Street, where he allegedly absconded with Luna the kitten on February 23rd:
The following individual did enter a bodega on February 23rd and removed a 2 month old kitten from its owner. If you know or see the individual please call 911 or contact our Detective Squad at 718-543-6134. #yourcityyourcall pic.twitter.com/xAW2u94Oxs
— NYPD 50th Precinct (@NYPD50Pct) February 27, 2019
The bodega also shared images of the suspect, noting, "My name is 'Luna' I'm 2 months old and that guy in the picture stole me from my home, I'm a very sweet kitten that loves to play with everyone, I never been outside before so my mommy Is scared he will hurt me, he lured me out from under a table, police report has been made, and the news are been inform, please help me come back home."
Jonathan and Luna
Jonathan Diaz, the 10-year-old son of the bodega owners, told WABC 7, "She's so cute and soft, and I want her back."
The family shared a photograph of Jonathan and Luna with PIX 11 (right). His mother Suzie Pena said, "Luna is actually his. He is autistic and missing her very much, he is having a very hard time with this.”
WABC 7 reports, "He visited her every day after school, and the two were inseparable."
Jonathan "hasn't stopped crying. He can't comprehend. We tell him that the police are investigating, so every time he sees a police officer, he goes, 'Mom! Mom! Ask them, ask them if they found her,'" Ismail Diaz, the owner, said to WABC 7.
The suspect, who was wearing a Cookie Monster hoodie, was spotted on the bodega's security camera video with the cat:
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
UPDATE: Pena told Gothamist that Luna was returned today, and Jonathan, who didn't go to school today, was thrilled. "They've been playing... he's been reading to her," she said.
A police spokesperson said that Stanley Duran, 29, turned Luna back in this morning and was arrested. Duran was charged with petit larceny and issued a desk appearance ticket.
