The search for a three-month-old kitten named Jabal, stolen from a grocery store in Park Slope, has ended successfully in New York, infohub.kz reports.
The incident occurred when the three-month-old kitten went outside near the store entrance. A passing couple scooped up the animal and put it in a bag, ignoring a passerby who tried to stop them and explained that the pet belonged to the local grocery store.
The owner, Imad Inab, noticed his beloved pet was missing and reviewed surveillance footage. Together with concerned local residents, he put up missing posters and offered a $500 reward for the kitten's safe return.
The story gained widespread attention thanks to support from neighbors and social media users who launched an online search campaign. As a result, the woman who took the kitten arranged for its handover to a police station through her stepson. Police personally delivered Jabal back to the store, and 58-year-old Brooklyn resident Mary Sierra was later charged with pet theft.
Imad Inab has worked at the store for 39 years. He admitted that the community's support moved him to tears. Kitten Jabal had recently arrived at the shop to replace the customers' previous favorite, a cat named Victoria, who lived at the store for 17 years and died in the summer. The owner is happy to have his pet back and sincerely grateful to everyone who helped in the search.