Teenager’s ‘despicable’ act with cat caught on CCTV

CCTV footage has exposed three schoolboys cruelly stealing an elderly cat from its yard, as the devastated owner clings to hope of finding her cherished pet.

The owner of an elderly cat, cruelly taken by a group of teenage boys, is heartbroken as the search for her beloved pet continues.

Three 15-year-old boys were caught on CCTV briefly petting the cat, named Bucket, before picking her up from a brick wall outside a home on Bourke Street in Goulburn, 190km southwest of Sydney, on August 31.

Bucket is said to be a very trusting and social cat who loved cuddles from schoolkids and neighbours before she was taken.

Her affection was clear in the heartbreaking footage, with the elderly cat being carried away by the boys without any resistance.

They were overheard saying, “This is my cat”, and laughing as they joked about putting Bucket in their bike basket while walking down the street.

A teenage boy snatched a cat from someone's front lawn, in a despicable act that was caught on CCTV. Picture: PAWS Adoption By BEE

The Facebook page PAWS Adoption by Bee took to the platform to raise awareness, “encourage vigilance,” and highlight the importance of installing cameras.

“Please share this widely, car dash cameras or home videos are crucial, and any findings should be reported to the police,” the page wrote. “Bucket’s family is devastated. If you own a cat in Goulburn, please be cautious”.

The boy carrying the cat away from its home. Picture: PAWS Adoption By BEE

The rescue organisation insisted that “no cat should ever feel unsafe, let alone in their own front yard, and it is troubling that young individuals have committed this act”.

She is still missing, but police are currently investigating the matter, with all three boys reportedly identified.

The cat’s owner, Janine Steele, told The Goulburn Post that she is holding onto hope.

“She didn’t deserve this,” Ms Steele, who rescued Bucket as a kitten, told the local outlet.

She says that while staying optimistic is crucial, she does fear that the teens may have harmed her.

“I go between complete despair and feeling really supported by the community, but I’m holding out hope, because I have to,” she said.

Janine Steele pictured with her cat Bucket. Picture: The Goulburn Post

Hundreds of Aussies criticised the teens’ behaviour after the footage of Bucket’s abduction went viral, with Steele saying their parents’ silence is extremely telling.

“The silence from the parents of the boys involved hurts just as much (as her disappearance),” she said.

One of the boys’ relatives reportedly sent Ms Steele aggressive messages after she posted the video online.

They claimed the boys only carried Bucket a short distance down the street, which Ms Steele finds hard to believe, given she thinks she would have walked home.

Those convicted of animal theft in New South Wales can face fines of up to $550 and up to six months behind bars.

The penalties for animal cruelty are harsher, with a maximum fine of $44,000 and up to 12 months in jail.

Originally published as Teenager’s ‘despicable’ act with cat caught on CCTV