A so-called serial thief responsible for stealing towels, shoes and underwear from a school in New Zealand for more than a year has finally been identified, according to UPI.
Principal Marama Stewart said the items had been disappearing mysteriously from Apanui School in Whakatāne, particularly during the swimming season when the pool was in use.
“At first, it was shoes, goggles, underwear and towels that went missing,” she said.
CCTV Reveals Unexpected Culprit
In a bid to solve the ongoing mystery, the school installed security cameras and later shared footage of the culprit in action on Facebook. The video showed a black cat dragging a large towel across the school playground.
Stewart said she reviewed the security recordings after more swimming gear and towels vanished.
“When the swimwear and towels disappeared, I checked the cameras and saw this ‘little offender’. A large number of items were later found behind a shed at the school,” she explained.
The school caretaker subsequently contacted the cat’s owner, who confirmed that their pet was a “well-known” thief.
The unusual case has amused many online, turning what began as a frustrating series of thefts into a light-hearted story for the school community.
