RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -
Richmond Northside neighbors are on edge, after someone reported is stealing pets in the Battery Park area.
Two different witnesses reported spotting the same woman, coaxing two cats and a dog away from their homes, and taking off in her car earlier this month. One victim tells the Battery Park Civic Association's president, Todd Hardy, that both her kitties were stolen off the porch.
A neighbor says she saw the woman put the cats in her car, and drive away. The victim didn't want to go on camera, out of fear for her pets.
"They're scared that if the woman sees the interview, she may harm the animals," said Hardy after his conversation with the owner, who is also his neighbor.
Another neighbor says she saw a woman with the same description luring a dog away from its yard. The resident says that the woman actually coaxed the animals.
"(The woman) made the comment that... 'I don't know who you belong to, but you're going home with me,'" said Hardy.
Warnings took over the Battery Park Civic Association's Facebook page.
The suspect is described as an older, short, heavy-set, Caucasian lady, wearing a gray coat and hat. She was spotted driving a maroon station wagon. Richmond police Lieutenant Chris Gleason addressed concerns at a neighborhood gathering. Investigators have only received one report of the missing cats. However, police continue to question witnesses, and search for motives.
"I do know on (January) 8th, it is was cold outside. I don't know if that individual was going around and taking animals out of the cold," Lt. Gleason told neighbors gathered at the community meeting Tuesday night.
January 8 was two days after bitter cold set in across Richmond.
The owners of the cat have alerted area shelters and animal rescues. Anyone who knows anything about these thefts is asked to call 804-646-5100.
As for harder crime in the neighborhood, Lt. Gleason was happy to report that homicides in the area were down 83 percent in 2013, from the year before. Lt. Gleason says officers in the sector have worked extremely hard to secure the North Side.
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