Not exactly the spinning crime.
An ex-Australian soldier in full tactical gear is said to have entered an animal shelter with an assault rifle and tied up a worker in a failed attempt to get his cat back, according to a report on Wednesday.
Tony Wittmann, 44, was reportedly so upset when workers at the Lost Dogs’ Home in Melbourne told him to wait a day to pick up the pet, he is accused of threatening a 23-year-old female worker with the gun in the parking lot, according to ABC Australia.
“Do as I say and listen to me, I will not shoot you,” he reportedly told her, a court heard this week. “Don’t try or I’ll shoot you.”
Wittmann led the worker into the building with a firearm that looked like “something a SWAT team would use in the movie,” the unknown worker said, according to the paper.
He allegedly ordered the scared girl to lead him to the cats, and then demanded that she get on her knees and tie her up with zip ties.
‘The defendant said,’ I’m going to close this door. If I see you, I’ll shoot you, ” Detective Senior Constable Jo MacDonald said in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
“On this occasion, he acted to regain possession of a cat, which he might only miss for 10 hours.”
But Wittmann – who served in the Australian Army before being fired for inefficient service – was ultimately left empty-handed.
He was charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment and armed robbery and was denied bail.