Three teenagers filmed taking elderly cat from Goulburn front yard
CCTV shows boys carrying 18-year-old cat named Bucket; police investigating as owner urges community for information
Three 15-year-old boys were filmed taking an elderly, much-loved cat from a front yard in Goulburn, New South Wales, on August 31, and the animal’s owner has appealed to the community for help as police investigate.
The footage, captured on CCTV and circulated online by a rescue organisation, shows the boys briefly petting the cat, named Bucket, before lifting her off a brick wall outside a home on Bourke Street. The image shows the boys carrying the animal and one is recorded saying, "This is my cat now," while another is heard laughing about putting Bucket into a bicycle basket as they walked away.
Bucket is an 18-year-old cat that her owner, Janine Steele, rescued as a kitten. Steele told the Goulburn Post she is in "complete despair" but is holding out hope that the animal will be found safe. She said she has not heard from the boys or their parents and that the silence from the families has compounded her distress.
Steele said one relative of a boy allegedly sent her aggressive messages after she shared the video online. She added that she has not named the teenagers because she intends to follow the proper legal process and has urged neighbours to be vigilant and to contact Goulburn Police Station with any information.
Police in the regional city, about 190 kilometres southwest of Sydney, confirmed they are investigating Bucket’s disappearance. The incident prompted a strong reaction online after the footage was shared, with members of the community and animal advocates criticising the boys’ actions.
Under New South Wales law, stealing an animal can attract a fine of up to A$550 and up to six months in prison. Penalties for animal cruelty are substantially higher, with maximum fines up to A$44,000 and potential jail terms of up to 12 months.
Steele described Bucket as a very trusting and social animal, known in the neighbourhood for accepting cuddles from schoolchildren and neighbours. The CCTV shows the cat being carried without apparent resistance, a factor that has heightened concern among those searching for her and monitoring social media for sightings.
Authorities have asked anyone with knowledge of Bucket’s whereabouts to contact Goulburn Police Station. The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not released any information about charges or the whereabouts of the teenagers involved.