Man charged with 12 counts for stealing a bobcat from Pocono Snake and Animal Farm

Image from Pocono Snake Farm's Ring camera.

A bobcat that was stolen from Pocono Snake and Animal Farm in Pennsylvania has been recovered and the man believed to be responsible for the theft is in custody facing 12 charges.

The incident happened in East Stroudsburg around 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2022, and was captured on Ring camera. The thief entered the roadside zoo through an unlocked front door, police say, and snatched a 22-year-old female bobcat named Blanch.

The man was seen on the Ring camera struggling with Blanch before loading her into his Hyundai and taking off.

Pocono Snake & Animal Farm owner Jon Lowris told the Pocono Record that the man who stole the bobcat left a $50 bill behind. He said Blanch put up a fight and after the theft he found “chunks of hair and a broken claw” in the parking lot.

“He dropped her several times in the parking lot and wrestled with her,” Lowris told the Pocono Record. “I think he said something like, ‘I don’t want to kill you.’”

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) quickly identified Semyon Levit, 45, as a suspect.

Semyon Levit stole a bobcat from Pocono Snake Farm.

At around 4:15 p.m. yesterday evening PSP initiated a traffic stop near Pocono Snake and Animal Farm and arrested Levit. Blanch was found in the trunk and was safely returned to Pocono Snake and Animal Farm.

Levit was charged with 12 counts including burglary, theft, criminal trespassing, animal cruelty, animal neglect, marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession.