A cheeky cat called Leonardo da Pinchi has been stealing pants and socks from his neighbours.
His relentless laundry raids have made him quite the notorious celebrity in Mairangi Bay, New Zealand.
The 15-month-old feline thief has expensive taste too – seeking out silk boxer shorts and thick men’s work socks, often with the clothes pegs still attached.
He’s even stolen a brand-new $300 NZD (£134) cashmere sweater.
His criminal life first started when he was let outdoors for the first time last year.
The problem has got out of hand for his owner Helen North who struggles to manage her cat’s kleptomania.
She said: ‘My daughter was at home sick and she rang me at work saying, “It’s bad, it’s bad, this is the worst thing he’s brought in, it’s really bad,” she said.
‘Because it was beautiful. I was like, “Ooh, can I keep that?” But I couldn’t.’
To Helen’s horror, the stolen stash just keeps growing – everything from piles of socks, loads of underwear, and even a bizarre five-foot-long stuffed snake.
Leo’s record so far in one day is nine stolen items.
Helen continued: ‘He brought in a jersey this morning at ten past eight. The shops hadn’t even opened.’
Helen has tried everything under the sun to stop his thieving habits including keeping him indoors to leaving out clothes at home for him to steal.
She said: ‘He only wants stuff that he shouldn’t have.’
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She has no choice now but to post photos of his loot on a local Facebook page, along with an apology and her address.
A woman recognised her pink and purple underpants, and a boy was reunited with his missing sports jersey.
One of Leo’s regular targets is allergic to cats and she is forced to dry her washing indoors.
‘All of our neighbours think he’s amazing,’ she said. ‘Some of them are quite put out that he hasn’t actually stolen anything of theirs.’
Helen hopes that this is just a childhood phase for Leo and that he will grow out of it.
She added: ‘I hope he grows out of it because I don’t want to do this for like, 15 years. This is a lot of admin.’
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