In the small town of West Yorkshire, England, a feline kleptomaniac named Taboo has become infamous for her unique form of thievery. This 12-year-old black-and-white cat has learned to steal random items from her neighbors, including socks, gloves, underpants, and even shoes. Taboo’s owner, Sandra Danskin, often wakes up after her night shifts to find a variety of stolen goods scattered around her house, brought home by her four-legged bandit. The most bizarre of her finds included broken eggs still in their box, likely stolen off a doorstep after a milkman’s delivery. To help her neighbors reclaim their belongings, Danskin regularly posts pictures of the loot on social media, but Taboo remains elusive, rarely getting caught in the act.
Taboo’s thieving ways are both amusing and frustrating for the local community. On one occasion, she was spotted attempting to steal a T-shirt from a neighbor’s kitchen dryer, but her general stealthiness makes it difficult to catch her in the act. Interestingly, Taboo’s kleptomania extends to her desire for order, as she’s known to bring home both socks in a matching pair. While some locals joke about changing their locks, others suggest training the little burglar to target higher-end goods. Despite Sandra’s best efforts to reason with her furry companion, Taboo continues her streak of petty crimes, announcing her successes with a signature howl. The case of Taboo recalls that of Charlie, the “Klepto-Cat” of Bristol, sparking a playful theory that tuxedo cats like them have a particular penchant for theft.