Cops Seek Alleged Kitten-Nappers Who Swiped Kitten from Chicago Ridge Petland

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL -- Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying two alleged catnappers who stole a kitten from a Chicago Ridge pet store.

The retail theft of the 8-week-old kitten happened Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 26 at Petland at the Commons of Chicago Ridge Shopping Center, 110 Commons Drive. Security video captured a young man and woman entering the store. The male subject was seen hiding the kitten inside his jacket before the two walked out of the store.

The store's general manager said it is highly unusual to have animals stolen from their store. Petland employees did not notice that the kitten was gone until examining store video.

“This is not something that happens,” she said. “We’re pretty intensive, but it was right after Thanksgiving and we were busy and we couldn’t have all our eyes on them like we usually do.

According to the general manager, the store acquires kittens from customers who surrender them to Petland because they cannot find homes for them. The female kitten, a small, rare tri-colored calico, was the last of a litter of twelve that a customer turned over to the store a few weeks before she was stolen. The kittens had just been put out on the sales floor Thanksgiving weekend.

“At this point, we just want to recover the animal,” she said.

At the Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet, a shih tzu turned up missing from Furry Babies on Nov. 23. Puppies were also reported stolen from a business in Plainfield around the same period.

The Chicago Ridge Police Department is investigating the theft. Anyone with information about the kitten or the two individuals in these photos, is asked to contact CRPD Detective Layman or Detective Gutkowski at 708-425-7831.