(True story)

In New Zealand, a new breed of cat has emerged. We don't know why or how, but the facts are irrefutable. It all started in the quiet seaside neighborhood of Mairangi Bay, Auckland, where one unlikely outlaw is stealing.

Meet Leo, a 15-month-old feline with a taste for the finer things in life. From silk boxer shorts to a $300 cashmere sweater, Leo’s daily hauls have turned him into something of a legend. Now affectionately dubbed “Leonardo da Pinchy,” this bandit has been caught dragging home everything from thick work socks (still clipped with clothespins) to a five-foot stuffed snake.

His owner, Helen North, has tried everything to stop the kitty, from keeping him indoors to staging decoy laundry, yet Leo remains undeterred. The community, however, has embraced the absurdity. Neighbors chuckle over missing underpants and misplaced jerseys as North posts photos of the loot in local Facebook and WhatsApp groups, often with the message: “Are these your undies?”

While one cat-allergic neighbor now dries laundry inside, others are secretly disappointed Leo hasn’t targeted their clothesline. For now, Leonardo da Pinchy roams free.