Kitten stolen last week from a bodega in Kingsbridge (Bronx), returned about two hours ago.
The incident occurred on February 23, Ismael store, Gourmet Deli, located on West 238th Street. Bodega owners say a man lured a 2-month kitten named Luna from under the table. The guy bought a soda, and after taking the cat ran out of the store. The kidnapper sat in the red Ford Explorer and fled the scene.
«I 2 months, the guy in the photo stole me from my home. I am a very cute kitten who loves to play with everyone, I never been outside before, so my mom is afraid that I might get hurt. Please help me to return home,» wrote the owners of the bodega, on behalf of the moon in Facebook.
The police actively searched for the man by posting on Twitter a photo of the mysterious thief.
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
It is unknown if he took the kitten, having decided that the homeless man, or deliberately stolen. As told by the owners, the hardest thing is parting with the Moon was given to their son Jonathan. The boy, who is autistic, with a kitten has special relations.
«The moon is actually his cat, explained Jonathan’s mother pix11 reporters. — He’s autistic and really misses her, it is very difficult. [Luna] all his life.»
«Jonathan was constantly crying. He could not understand why the Moon is gone. We told him that the police are investigating, so every time he sees a police officer, he asked the mother to ask if there was a cat,» said the boy’s parents in an interview with Eyewitness news.
The man who took the moon, was last seen in a blue hoodie that says Cookie Monster. He was caught on camera inside the store.
📹 😾 Caught paw handed: Police say this man was seen cat-napping a two-month old feline from a #Bronx bodega Saturday. A $250 reward for its safe return is now being offered — no questions asked. More: https://t.co/1Not0vu3TA #MorningsOn1 pic.twitter.com/tIbLkvJuQ3
— Spectrum NY1 News (@NY1) February 28, 2019
«Can someone steal a soda, potato chips, pie, but how can you steal an animal? — commented on the incident, the owner of the bodega. I just hope that someone who is now a cat, going to return it.»
Fortunately, the story ended well. About two hours ago the moon returned to owners.
UPDATE: happy ending as Luna, the stolen bodega cat, has been returned. pic.twitter.com/xYIoeHLJf0
— Marcus Solis (@MarcusSolis7) February 28, 2019
The kidnapper was a 29-year-old Stanley Duran. He came into the store, seeing themselves in the news. He apologized to the family and told them to call the police, after which he was arrested.
A touching reunion of the moon with his family was shot by surveillance cameras installed inside the shop.
Surveillance video shows the moment a stolen sweet bodega cat was reunited with her family in the Bronx ❤ it’s amazing https://t.co/hQ9Hqmfe39 pic.twitter.com/yNoKscsUY9
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) February 28, 2019
The representative of the NYPD 50th Precinct thanked the public for their care and assistance in catching the perpetrator.
The case of The Bronx bodega cat burglar has been solved! Our Neighborhood Coordination Officers from the @nypd50pct stopped by to visit by and drop off a “welcome home” gift for Luna. We’d say this was a purrfect ending to this story 😺. pic.twitter.com/iqWul6hbUm
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 28, 2019
While no details that shed light on what was happening with the Moon all this time, and why Durant decided to take the kitten from the store, no.
