Burglar thwarted as heroic 13-year-old cat comes to owner's rescue
The real life 'Mog the Cat' sprang into action sending the "career criminal" fleeing empty-handed
Callum Quirk, 27(Image: Cheshire Constabulary)
A burglar snuck into a property by climbing through a downstairs window before being frightened off - by the owner's 13-year-old cat. Callum Quirk, 27, from Thirlmere Way, Widnes, has appeared at Chester Crown Court today where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to burglary at an earlier hearing.
The defendant was jailed for 35 months. On the evening of Tuesday 9 September, Quirk snuck into a house on McClellan Place, Widnes. The victim heard footsteps in the hallway approaching her bedroom and hid in her wardrobe in sheer panic.
The terrified woman then called 999 to report that somebody was in her house. The 13-year-old cat, Nexi, took this moment to leap off the bed and run out into the hallway confronting Quirk before he could get into the bedroom.
This led to a frightened Quirk fleeing empty-handed from the property. Widnes response officers swiftly attended the scene, but Quirk had already fled. The hunt for him began with CCTV and forensic opportunities gathered at the scene. This led to Widnes proactive CID identifying the suspect as Quirk.
He had been captured on CCTV at the victim’s front door preparing to carry out the burglary and then captured on further CCTV climbing through an open downstairs window to enter the house. Quirk originally denied the offence to officers when interviewed however further forensic work on a discarded can found at the scene found his DNA present, and a forensic footwear report matching trainers seized from Quirks feet to the CCTV footage nailed Quirk to the crime.
PC Stuart Beswick from Halton Proactive CID said: “The impact burglary can have on a victim should never be underestimated. This woman was terrified in her own home – a place where she should rightfully feel safe. The effect on victims can be long-lasting and even lead to some wanting to move house once their safe space has been violated by these thieves.
“Career criminal Callum Quirk knows this all too well having been convicted of previous burglary dwelling offences. Knowing the impact that burglary has Quirk made a conscious decision to target yet another victim and cause further harm in the community of Halton.
“This time he met his match in Nexi the cat. When confronted in the victim’s hallway Quirk ran scared from the property empty-handed. The bravery of Nexi is to be commended in this case and her actions most certainly stopped the victim having a terrifying confrontation with Quirk and kept her belongings safe from him.”
PC Beswick added: "The identification, arrest and prosecution of Quirk has been a real team effort, and I would like to thank my colleagues in the Proactive CID, Crime Scene Investigators and the forensic footwear unit for providing key evidence that resulted in Quirk being left with no option but to plead guilty to his crime.
"This team effort led to Quirk being put behind bars for a significant period of time and as a result the community of Halton is now a safer place. I would like to reassure residents that we will continue to target and bring to justice anybody involved in burglary."