A heartbreaking incident unfolded on Saturday night in South Philadelphia when Artemis, a beloved family cat, was allegedly stolen by two teenage boys. The theft occurred around 8 p.m. near 1525 South Hicks Street. The couple’s Ring camera captured the moment the boys, one of whom was riding a bicycle, interacted with Artemis, who was wearing a collar and an AirTag. Minutes later, the video shows the boys picking up the cat, shouting “We’ve got another one,” and walking away.
By 8:24 p.m., the boys had gotten into a white Dodge Durango, driven by a woman speaking loudly on her phone. The SUV, with Pennsylvania license plates, drove off, prompting the Mojicas to take immediate action.
The AirTag on Artemis’ collar began pinging, first near City Hall and then heading towards North Philadelphia. Andrew Mojica pursued the signal on his Vespa while his wife, Dominique, searched Center City. At one point, Andrew tracked the AirTag to a McDonald’s on Chelten Avenue and then to a corner near West Lehigh Avenue. There, he spotted the same white SUV outside a C-Town Supermarket.
“I followed the AirTag to West Lehigh and 25th,” Andrew said. “At that point, the woman noticed me and sped off, discarding the AirTag around 11 p.m. on West Hunting Park Avenue.” The next morning, the Mojicas found Artemis’ collar near a basement door, but there was no sign of the cat.
“Since then, we’ve recovered the collar, but we still haven’t found Artie,” Andrew said, his voice filled with emotion. “We just really want him to come home — and so does everyone in the neighborhood.”
Artemis, a white and gray American Shorthair, isn’t just cherished by his owners. He’s known as a local icon.
“Everyone stops to see him when they’re having a bad day,” Andrew explained. “We’ve even been told he’s friends with all the cats, including some strays he brings to our house. We end up fostering them.”
Artie is microchipped, and the family has alerted shelters, including ACCT Philly and the SPCA. Flyers have been posted, and neighbors have contributed to a reward fund. “Our neighbors are helping with the reward because we all just want him home,” Andrew added.
The couple has also filed a police report and continues to search daily. They are offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to Artemis’ return.
“We’re not giving up,” Andrew said. “We’ll keep searching, keep calling for him. We know he’ll come to us when he hears our voices.”
The disappearance of Artemis has left the neighborhood devastated. In a tight-knit community where everyone knows each other — and their pets — the loss of this friendly and trusting cat has shaken the local residents. The Mojicas continue to hold onto hope that their beloved Artie will come home soon.
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