Children who had their precious cat stolen over a year ago still draw pictures of it as they struggle to come terms with his absence. Their mum Jodie Smith has revealed how much they miss Arlo, who was snatched off the streets of Solihull in January 2022.
He was one of a wave of catnappings in the area and back in August. Jodie admitted how angry she’d been that police dropped an investigation into the disappearance of so many felines, reports Birmingham Live.
That was despite what appeared to be video evidence showing an attempt to bundle one pet into a box. Charlene Jones, another victim, explained her cat Benson had also been pinched weeks before – her devastated family was forced to buy back the “traumatised” animal from an unsuspecting buyer in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Now, one year on, Jodie said while she had managed to cheer her children up with a new kitten they still asked about the stolen moggie. The 32-year-old carer accused police of “not taking the case seriously”.
She said: “It’s so unfair. It’s the children that have to put up with it, they loved him.
“They can’t just get away with it. I would love for him to come home.”
Jodie – who spotted Arlo on a selling website – explained that while he had been reported as missing, she was losing hope he would ever be returned home. She said “the person that has bought him doesn’t know about cats” as he was listed as a kitten, but is actually already neutered.
“They still draw pictures of him,” Jodie said of her devastated children. “Our family is growing, but they still get upset. I don’t have answers for them.
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
“[The police] need to take it more seriously. It affects people. [Cats] are part of the family and they are loved and wanted.”.
West Midlands Police previously confirmed it had taken the decision to drop the investigation after taking it as far as “reasonably possible”.
Charlene and Jodie have launched a Facebook page to try to get Arlo home. They are appealing for anybody with information to come forward here, and they have also launched a campaign for an “Arlo’s law”.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
