Hong Kong police have arrested a YouTuber for allegedly stealing a cat from a temple.

The force said the man, 25, was apprehended on suspicion of theft on Wednesday morning after officers raided his public housing flat in Hung Hom and recovered “Lok Lok” the cat.

Inspector Siu Yan-ting of the Kowloon City animal crime investigation team said no visible injuries were found on the nine-year-old cat. Siu said: -

“Following an examination by personnel from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Lok Lok appears to be safe and healthy at the moment.”

She added that police would later return the cat to its owner.

Officers launched an investigation after the cat’s owner, 77, filed a report to police on Monday that the animal which was kept at a temple in To Kwa Wan had been missing since Thursday last week.

The Inspector said:

“Lok Lok is well-loved by the neighbourhood, and concerned residents immediately searched online for information about Lok Lok, and set up a webpage to find where Lok Lok had gone.”

After gathering evidence and identifying the suspect, officers raided the flat at Hung Hom Estate, arrested the man and rescued the cat on Wednesday morning.

A source said the man was a YouTuber and worked as a clerical worker.

In Hong Kong, theft carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the suspect was still in police custody.

Siu said police would continue to investigate the case from various angles, including the offence of animal cruelty. She warned that animal cruelty was a serious offence, punishable by up to three years in jail and a HK$200,000 (US$25,650) fine.

She said investigations into the motive and the involvement of any accomplice were continuing.

Main Source: SCMP