Serial cat burglar can't stop stealing neighbour's socks

Bear the cat burglar caught red handed, stealing socks from neighbours to add to his growing collection. Photo / Supplied

Some cats treat their owners to the odd dead bird or mouse, but Bear the cross-eyed Tonkinese brings home gifts of a different kind.

Bear has hauled 15 odd socks back to his home in Mt Albert, Auckland in the last three weeks - a hobby which began two years ago.

"We generally get about five socks a week," said owner Penny Hassan, including a sock with candy canes on it that turned up just in time for Christmas.

Bear the cross-eyed Tonkinese has a fine taste for socks. Photo / Supplied

Hassan has reached out to owners of the pilfered socks on Facebook, so they can be returned.

"I wake up each day and my garden is littered with socks," Hassan wrote in a Facebook post.

She has resorted to pegging them on her washing line for neighbours to collect.

"I don't know why he takes socks. They must be easy to steal," said Hassan.

Bear has proven he is the cat's pyjamas at swiping socks from clotheslines recently, when he mastered the craft of bringing home pairs.

"He goes a long, long way and brings them all the way back," Hassan said laughing.

"He crosses the road and you can see him coming. He is always very proud of himself."

Bear's main 'supplier' is a family nearby who put their socks outside to dry on a low clothes airer, just within his reach.

Hassan was told by one neighbor that they have wrestled stolen goods off him before.

Bear has hauled an impressive amount of socks back to his Auckland home. This is his current collection ready to be claimed. Photo / Supplied

The serial offender has been prowling the neighbourhood and bringing things home since he was little.

The biggest thing Bear swiped was a cat's bed.

He has also brought home a beanie, scarves, baby's bonnets, cat toys, togs, tea towels and dish cloths.

"But his biggest thing is socks," said Hassan.

Another Mt Albert cat was sprung earlier this year for stealing jandals. The stolen goods were attached to a power pole on Bennett St with a sign reading:

"Our cat borrowed shoes. Are they yours? And he's very sorry."

Residents have taken to Facebook to suggest the cat burglars pair up to create the classic Kiwi combo - socks and jandals.

Animal behaviour expert Dr Elsa Flint said stealing socks is abberant hunting behaviour.

"It seems to predominantly occur in the early morning or late evening when cats are out hunting. The cat will then behave in the same way they do if they've brought home a mouse, by calling to their owner."

Flint said this type of behaviour is particularly common among burmese, siamese and tonkinese breeds.

"Socks seem to be quite attractive but cats will also bring home other odd objects."

Tips to stopping a cat burglar
• Keep your cat preoccupied during hunting time - early morning and late evenings.
• Distract your cat by giving them a toy to play with or playing with them.
• Give your cat something to chew on, whether it is a toy or piece of meat.