Jabal had become a local celebrity at the 8th St. Mini Mart after the store’s longtime resident cat Victoria passed away. Victoria had lived there for 17 years, and after her death three months ago, shop patrons missed her familiar purrs and the gentle way she’d curl up beside customers’ feet.
On Thursday at 7:18 a.m., security footage captured a man and a woman lifting the kitten from the store’s doorway and walking away. The clip spread quickly through neighborhood groups, sparking a frantic search that saw posters posted on every corner of Park Slope.
Innab offered a $500 reward, posted photographs of the suspects on social media, and urged the NYPD to investigate the theft. The community rallied, with many neighbors volunteering to help locate the missing feline.
The woman later sent her stepson to the 78th Precinct with Jabal, leading police to retrieve the kitten and return him to the mini‑mart. She was taken into custody but has not yet been charged.
Police are still investigating the incident, and the suspect man’s whereabouts remain unknown. The case’s resolution has left the community relieved yet wary, underscoring how quickly a beloved pet can become a point of collective concern.