WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — In a quaint beachside neighborhood of Mairangi Bay in Auckland, a 15-month-old cat named Leo has become notorious for his unexpected crime spree, primarily stealing laundry items from the homes and clotheslines of locals. This mischievous feline has earned the playful nickname "Leonardo da Pinchy," and he has garnered a unique celebrity status among residents.
Leo's peculiar thefts often include high-value items such as silk boxer shorts, men’s thick socks—often still clinging to clothespins—and even an expensive cashmere sweater worth 300 New Zealand dollars (approximately $181). Helen North, Leo's owner, recounted a particularly alarming incident when her daughter, who was home sick, called her at work in distress over Leo’s latest acquisition. "It’s bad, it’s bad, this is the worst thing he’s brought in, it’s really bad," she relayed, expressing her disappointment in not being able to keep the beautiful sweater.
In an effort to return the stolen items, North has leveraged a neighborhood WhatsApp group, humorously asking residents, "Are these your undies?" Despite her efforts, the collection of laundry items poured in, leading to ever-growing piles of socks and loads of underwear. One day, Leo astoundingly came home with nine different items, comprising an eclectic mix that could be fashioned into a full outfit, minus a few mismatched pieces ranging from baby clothes to menswear.
In response to the ongoing issue, North expanded her outreach by sharing photos of Leo's bounty on a local Facebook page, inviting rightful owners to reclaim their belongings. This initiative yielded successful returns, including a woman who identified her pink and purple underpants and a boy who happily claimed his missing sports jersey, identifiable by his name on the back. Interestingly, rather than facing ire from the community, North discovered that most neighbors found Leo to be quite remarkable, with some expressing regret that he hadn’t targeted their own laundry yet. One neighbor, who is allergic to cats, even began drying her laundry indoors to avoid any future thefts.
Despite the laughter and the community's amusement, North has taken various steps to mitigate Leo’s tangle with kleptomania. Efforts have included keeping him indoors and leaving out clothes as decoys for his scavenging instincts. Unfortunately, these attempts to dissuade his obsession with laundry have proven ineffective. "He only wants stuff that he shouldn’t have," North remarked, resonating with the dilemma many pet owners face regarding their whimsical pets. Moreover, she expressed reluctance in considering the recommendation of adopting another cat, fearing that a companion might train Leo to continue his laundry-lifting ways.
Leo's pilfering adventures began shortly after he was first allowed outside a year ago. North, however, remains hopeful that this behavior is merely a juvenile phase that he will outgrow. Yet, a sense of resignation looms over her thoughts as she mused, "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." As it stands, the enigmatic figure of Leonardo da Pinchy continues his escapades across the streets of Mairangi Bay, leaving a trail of amusing anecdotes and bewildered residents in his wake.
