Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Fur Real: Cat Mask-Wearing Robber Caught
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 26, 2010
Modified Aug 26, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 26, 2010
Modified Aug 26, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, a woman entered a Soho shop on Greene Street "dressed in black, with a black scarf around her face and wearing a cat mask" and used a gun to rob the store. Yes, the cat mask-wearing lady bandit (video), who apparently robbed two other stores while wearing the mask and another store while veiled.
Shanna Spalding, 28, of Queens, was arrested and found with a silver gun. According to the Post (which has a photo of her but she's not wearing the mask), she "sings with a death-metal band called Divine Infamy under her stage name, Purgatory." The paper also made sure to keep up the cat puns: "She allegedly threatened to shoot up the place if she didn't get her paws on the dough."
Tagged
arrest
cat mask
crime
gunpoint
robber
robbery
Shanna Spalding
thief
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .