• Delivery driver faces up to five years in prison for stealing family’s pet cat
• Family lives in anxiety after their cat “Nora” was snatched

A delivery driver is facing up to five years in prison after being caught on camera stealing a pet cat from a family’s garden in the UK.

The 42-year-old driver, Catalin Stanscu, was recorded carrying the striped-fur cat, named “Nora,” shortly after delivering a package to the family’s home.

The cat’s owner, 53-year-old Karl Crother, said he was shocked when he reviewed his doorbell camera footage and saw Stanscu taking “Nora” from the front garden. He quickly uploaded the video online, prompting a message from the driver that read: “Hello — I have your cat.”

Stanscu later appeared in Bristol Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted to stealing the cat. Judge Alexander Boyd described the crime as serious enough to warrant more than just a fine, noting that all sentencing options were under consideration. He added that animal theft is still considered a relatively new crime with no fully established legal guidelines, saying: “This law was created to acknowledge that pets are not just property but part of the family, which was clear in this case.”

In a statement, the Crother family said: “When we discovered our cat was missing, we didn’t know where she was or whether she was hurt or even alive. We later learned she had been stolen intentionally, which increased our fear and stress.” They added: “Knowing she was taken from our garden, where she should have been safe, was a huge shock. We lived in complete uncertainty, and the emotional impact was enormous.”

The family also noted that “Nora” suffers from a heart condition and requires regular medication, which added to their worry.

The incident occurred on January 18, when Karl Crother was out on an errand. Footage showed Stanscu removing the cat from the garden for over six minutes before walking away with her.

The delivery company has offered compensation to the family for the cat, which Crother described as “disgusting.” Ultimately, the family was able to recover “Nora,” who has since reunited with their other cat, “Domino.”