Full Breakdown
Brooklyn Bodega Cat Stolen, Community Launches Search
By Drooid · · How we work
The Incident
A three-month-old kitten named Jabal was taken from outside the 8th Street Mini Market in Park Slope, Brooklyn, on Thursday morning, just as the cat was scheduled to be microchipped. Surveillance video captured a man and a woman walking past the store, picking up the kitten, and fleeing while Jabal squirmed. The store’s owner, Imad “Jimmy” Innab, discovered the loss when he reviewed the footage after opening for the day.
Community Response
Neighbors and regular patrons quickly organized a grassroots search. Residents distributed flyers, posted the suspects’ photo on Reddit, and shared updates on local forums, generating roughly 1,000 upvotes and more than 240 comments on one thread. The bodega offered a $500 “no-questions-asked” reward for Jabal’s safe return. Store owner Innab, who adopted Jabal after his previous cat Victoria died after 17 years, emphasized that he wants the kitten back rather than pressing criminal charges.
Official Statements & Reactions
Innab is in contact with the New York City Police Department, though the department has not provided comment. Dan Janzen, a nearby resident and regular customer, said the store received a tip that someone claimed to know Jabal’s whereabouts and would bring the kitten back from Bushwick later that day. Janzen expressed the community’s determination to keep hope alive.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As much as we love the kitten, we love him more,” — Dan Janzen
- “The people are very beautiful – very good – here,” — Imad Innab
Current Status
By Monday night the store remained without Jabal. Employees reported ongoing communication with police and continued optimism that officers would eventually recover the kitten. The incident highlights the cultural role of bodega cats in New York neighborhoods, serving both as vermin control and beloved mascots.