A heartbroken woman has been left in tears after her beloved tabby disappeared from her front yard – as the UK’s top 10 cat theft hot spots are revealed, with 255 felines reported lost or stolen in the past year.
Nichola Priestley didn’t think much of it when her ADT front door camera spotted her feline, Stormy, exiting the cat flap.
The black and white female pet was captured at 6.40am.
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Nichola had no idea that this would be the last time she saw her cat.
The distraught owner from the town and civil parish of Nelson, near Burnley in Lancashire, has put 600 leaflets through neighbours’ letterboxes asking for anyone with information to come forward.
She’s also called the local council, contacted all vets in the area and asked people on her street to check their security footage.
The cat owner even attempted to hire a tracking dog – but said it was not possible as “they were too far away”.
Nichola, who believes her cat was stolen, reported the incident to the police.
But despite her extensive efforts, Stormy remains missing.
“My front door camera caught Stormy in the garden at 6.40am – she heard a noise and ran for the cat flap, but she never made it back inside,” Nichola told Need To Know.
“Stormy always came running when called and rarely left the garden, so her disappearance was completely out of character.
“She went out but never came back in, and despite putting up thousands of leaflets, alerting local vets and authorities, and reporting her as stolen to the police, there hasn’t been a single sighting.
“As I searched, I heard from many others with similar stories – cats suddenly vanishing from the same area.
“All I know is someone took my girl.
“Months on, cats are still disappearing from our community, but the law continues to treat pet theft as a low priority.”
Nichola’s story follows new research by ADT, obtained through Freedom of Information requests to UK police forces.
The security company has revealed the country’s 10 cat theft hot spots – with West Yorkshire topping the list.
Residents in this region reported 59 such incidents last year.
West Midlands is the runner-up with 22 cats reported stolen, while Northumbria, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire share the third spot with 21 respectively.
In total, 255 cats were reported stolen in 2024 across the UK, although ADT told Need To Know some police forces were unable to provide data –meaning the actual number could be higher.
Stormy disappeared in December last year.
At the time, Nichola took to Facebook to appeal for anyone to help.
Reacting to these numbers, Nichola said: “Places where animals are being stolen or murdered like the park near me could benefit from the police putting up wildlife cameras.
“Alerts should also be sent out to the local community to let people know when there is a problem in the area.
“People in my area are now keeping their cats inside for safety.”
FACT BOX: TOP 10 CAT THEFT HOT SPOTS IN THE UK
- West Yorkshire Police (59)
- West Midlands Police (22)
- Northumbria Police (21)
- Bedfordshire Police (21)
- Cambridgeshire Constabulary (21)
- Essex Police (18)
- South Yorkshire Police (16)
- Hertfordshire Constabulary (15)
- Sussex Police (15)
- Suffolk Constabulary (12)
Jam Press has contacted Lancashire Constabulary for comment.
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