The Victoria Police have issued a statement, clearing a woman of any wrongdoing after she was initially suspected of stealing a friendly neighbourhood cat last week.
Penelope the cat is well-known in the neighbourhood as an extremely friendly cat, often greeting people who walk along Vancouver Street or Caledonia Avenue. Penelope also happens to be the Victoria HarbourCats honourary “Harbour Cat” as she can often be found hanging out on the baseball team’s office porch in the summer.
Last week, surveillance footage was circulated by Victoria Police after officers received a report that Penelope was stolen from the area near Royal Athletic Park.
The surveillance footage that was provided to police and released to the public showed a woman taking a black cat — which was thought to be Penelope at the time — and carrying her away in the 900-block of Caledonia Avenue.
The woman, who was deemed a suspect by police, has since been identified and Victoria Police have cleared her of any wrongdoing.
“The woman did not steal Penelope,” reads a statement from Victoria Police. “She was in fact taking her own black cat to seek veterinary care in the area when she was captured on video.”
Police have shifted their stance on the issue, suggesting that Penelope is believed to be missing and not the victim of a theft.
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