Police search for woman after theft of homeless man's pet rat
Police are seeking information from the public to help identify a woman captured on CCTV who they believe stole the pet rat of a homeless man.
The rat, named Lucy, was last seen by her owner Chris on Saturday April 6, outside Footlocker on Pitt Street in Sydney’s CBD.
Chris had temporarily left his beloved pet with his other belongings in his makeshift home, where the pair have become well-known to passers-by, to visit a nearby bathroom.
When he returned Lucy was gone.
According to Sydney City Police Area Command, while Chris was absent from his spot, a woman was captured on CCTV approaching his belongings and taking Lucy.
The woman has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in her late 30s or early 40s, with a slim build and curly brown hair.
In footage obtained by police of the alleged theft, the woman is seen wearing a cream sweater over a yellow shirt and blue shorts over “muscle” print tights.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have any information about the whereabouts of Lucy, to come forward.
The homeless man’s story went viral last week after a photo of him pictured alongside a handwritten sign revealing his loss was posted to social media.
“My pet rat Lucy was stolen on Saturday,” the sign read.
“Lucy is black and white with a bit of brown.”
The post has been liked more than 20,000 times since being uploaded to Facebook on April 9.
The woman who created the post about Chris, Alyson Pearce, said she felt “genuinely distressed” to see Chris without Lucy but the outpouring of support for him and his lost friend had been comforting.
“Almost every day since I started my job in the city Chris and his pet rat Lucy have sat in the same spot, Chris chatting to passers-by & Lucy happily munching, sleeping and looking on,” Ms Pearce said.
“They are a feature of Sydney city life and I have always smiled when I see them and felt glad they had each other.
“Taking a homeless person’s loved pet – seriously, what a really low act.”
In a recent update of her post, Ms Pearce said there had been so many “kind offers of help” she had set up a GoFundMe page for Chris.
Sydney City Police are urging anyone with information about Lucy to contact them on (02) 9265 6499 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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