30 year old Carlos Cyrus was sentenced to 5 months in prison after pleading guilty to the two thefts back in July.
The Surrey Police investigation first began after officers received a report of a man driving a Volkswagen Golf who had been seen on video doorbell and by an eyewitness to forcibly take a cat from the street on Abbey Road in Chertsey and ‘fling’ it into the car.
A second report detailed the same car being seen on Stepgates Close in Chertsey and the driver again picking a cat up from the street and putting it in his car. Neighbours then saw him driving erratically with the cat inside.
Thanks to extensive CCTV and video doorbell enquiries, officers were able to identify the suspect and the next day, Cyrus was arrested on suspicion of theft. He was then charged and remanded in custody.
During interviews he answered ‘no comment’ to all questions and despite extensive enquiries and searches of several addresses, the two cats have not been found.
Inspector Chris Thoday of the Northern Investigation Team said; “The two stolen cats, Tilly and Maisie, were much loved members of their families and the callous theft and refusal by Cyrus to tell us where they are, demonstrates his blatant disregard for animals and their owners.
“We know that these incidents had a real impact on the local community, and we hope that our swift action in apprehending Cyrus reassures you that we take the thefts of animals seriously and will do what we can to pursue offenders.
“We would also like to thank everyone in the local community who came forward with information around this case, no matter how small it might have seemed. This sentencing would not have been possible without your help.”
