The Aporia · NYC ‘animal lover’ accused of stealing beloved bodega cat furiously claims she was unfairly arrested

NYC ‘animal lover’ accused of stealing beloved bodega cat furiously claims she was unfairly arrested

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Fitz-Gibbon, J., & Roberts, G. (2026, September 16). NYC ‘animal lover’ accused of stealing beloved bodega cat furiously claims she was unfairly arrested. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/16/us-news/nyc-animal-lover-accused-of-stealing-beloved-bodega-cat-furiously-claims-she-was-unfairly-arrested/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Mary Sierra, a self-proclaimed animal lover who claims to own three rescue dogs, has been arrested and accused of stealing Jabal, a three-month-old kitten from 8th St. Mini Mart in Park Slope, New York City. Surveillance video showed two people taking the cat on Thursday morning when the store was closed. Sierra admitted to The Post that she took the cat but argues it was not theft since the store wasn’t open and neighbors had rallied to find Jabal. Despite returning the cat through her stepson, police charged her with petty larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and "companion animal stealing," releasing her on her own recognizance without bail.

Written by AI on 2026-09-16, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

On Thursday morning in Brooklyn, Jabal, a three-month-old cat from the Eighth Street Mini Market in Park Slope, was taken by a couple who approached him when the store wasn't open yet. Surveillance footage showed the pair grabbing Jabal despite a neighbor's attempt to stop them and warn that he belonged to the bodega. The incident sparked outrage online, with Imad "Jimmy" Innab, the bodega owner, offering a $500 reward for Jabal’s safe return.

Days later, after an intense community search, Mary Sierra admitted to taking Jabal but claimed she believed him to be a stray and that the store wasn’t open. Despite her assertions of innocence, Sierra was arrested on charges including petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Eventually, she or someone related to her returned Jabal to the NYPD, who then delivered the cat back to Innab.

The emotional reunion between Innab and Jabal occurred on Tuesday morning when police brought the kitten back to the store, leading to an overwhelming outpouring of relief and joy from both the owner and his supporters. Innab expressed gratitude towards the community for their dedication in ensuring that his beloved pet was returned safely.

Written for “Bodega Cat Reunited After Kidnapping” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 7% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Catnapped bodega cat in Brooklyn reunited with owner after intense grassroots campaign Same event

The Guardian

Hedges 3 of 30 claims Outlet record 66/100

Beloved NYC bodega cat returned days after couple snatched him from street, causing ‘crazy outrage’ Different event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 23 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles discuss the theft and return of a bodega cat, Article A focuses on the cat's return to his owner, while Article B covers an interview with one of the accused individuals who claims innocence despite admitting to taking the cat. They describe different aspects of related but distinct events.”

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

1 of 15 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Crime & Law

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Jorge Fitz-Gibbon

51 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

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Claims (15 extracted, 1 hedged)

“I’m going to sue them for accusing me of stealing,” Mary Sierra told The Post after being released on her own recognizance. asserted

Sierra → go → recognizance

“I’m an animal lover. asserted

I → ’m → ?

I got three rescue dogs,” she said. asserted

she → got → dogs

I went to jail! asserted

I → go → jail

They locked me up, they locked me up for this s—t. asserted

they → lock → —

I did not steal the f—ing cat.” asserted

I → steal → cat

The three-month-old kitten was nabbed from 8th St. Mini Mart in Park Slope on Thursday, with surveillance video capturing two people walking away with the cat. asserted

people → nab → cat

Despite saying she wasn’t guilty of the charges, she did admit to The Post that she took the cat. “That store wasn’t open at 7 a.m. I saw the cat four houses away and picked up the cat and I took him home with me,” she said. asserted

she → say → me

Neighbors rallied to find Jabal, until Sierra decided to return the cat to the store – but got her stepson to deliver the kitten to the 78th Precinct stationhouse on Tuesday. asserted

stepson → find → Tuesday

Police then took Sierra into custody, and she was charged and arraigned later in the day on charges of petty larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and “companion animal stealing,” according to a criminal complaint. uncertain

she → take → complaint

Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. asserted

Report → start → news

She was released without bail. asserted

She → release → bail

Jabal’s owner, Imad “Jimmy” Innab, was thrilled to have the kitten back. asserted

owner → thrill → kitten

However, Sierra maintains she’s being railroaded. asserted

she → maintain → ?

“It’s embarrassing, because everybody knows I didn’t steal the f—ing cat,” she told The Post. asserted

she → ’ → Post

NYC ‘animal lover’ accused of stealing beloved bodega cat furiously claims she was unfairly arrested

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Claims (15 extracted, 1 hedged)