It doesn't matter if you own a big hound or a fluffy little tabby, you know how persuasive an animal can be when they smell a tasty snack. From wagging their tails to their piercing gaze, they have plenty of weapons at their disposal to convince us to give them a bite.

And if all fails, some are determined enough to try out the last option — stealing!

We at Bored Panda put together a new collection of amusing photographic evidence, showcasing shameless pet thieves in the middle of their crimes. I wonder what excuse would they give to a judge.

#1 My Large Icy Was Full When I Went In The Store For 2 Minutes

Image credits: Rhonda Meeks Jones

#2 Someone Left The Peanut Butter On The Counter

Image credits: smogt3ch

According to biologist Genevieve Dugal, there are several reasons why a dog might be stealing food, with the most obvious being that they're just hungry. Especially if they have understood very well that the kitchen counter or the dining table conceals tasty treasures to reach for!

After all, you spend your time cooking mouth-watering food there; it’s normal for your dog to want to nibble on a piece of it too.

#3 Someone Liked The Taste Of Butter Chicken

Image credits: juicydwin

#4 I Was Trying To Take A Photo Of The Cake I Baked Until Someone Snuck Up On Me

Image credits: room23

#5 When You Leave The Yogurt Unattended

Image credits: asocialas

"Even if your dog is not necessarily hungry, he still tries to steal food because he receives a reward each time he succeeds," Dugal added.

"And we’re not just talking about the piece of meat as such: by stealing food from under your nose, your pup also catches your eye!"

#6 My Dog, Aspen, Always Grabs Things Out Of The Pantry And Brings Them To Us With This Face

Image credits: Edibletapes

#7 The Cat Was Mad We Weren't Home To Feed Her Dinner. So She Got Back At Us By Ripping Apart A Pack Of Bagels And Taking A Tiny Bite Out Of Each One

Image credits: sufficiently_sp00ked

#8 My Dad Says He Can Never Eat Anything In Peace

Image credits: sonny_sweat

Indeed, who has never reacted in front of their dog trying to steal food by telling him to stop or by suggesting to go get the ball instead?

So even if you reprimand them, you are paying attention to your pet and that gives him a good reason to keep at it.

#9 I Found My Dog's Butter Stash This Morning, Buried In Her Bed. She Doesn't Want To Talk About It

Image credits: dearthofkindness

#10 Cute Noodle Stealing A Noodle

Image credits: kirayusa

#11 Of All The Dogs I've Ever Had, He's The Worst One

Image credits: MarthaMatildaOToole

"In short, when a dog behaves in a certain way and that behavior is rewarded or reinforced, they are more likely to repeat that behavior over and over again," Dugal explained.

"Finding a delicious piece of chicken on the counter is an incredible reward in itself. But if he also gets your attention every time, he is likely to repeat this behavior until he is no longer rewarded."

#12 Can I Have Some?

Image credits: babyboboiputehcikb

#13 My Mom's Mini-Horse Got Into The House And Stole A Banana

Image credits: Tarostar

#14 Spaghetti Thief

Image credits: Lilahjane66

Whether you have a young puppy or a senior dog, a lack of obedience training may be the reason why he keeps jumping on around the kitchen or stealing food elsewhere. Some dogs can steal food simply because they never learned it was forbidden. Or maybe they just need a little reminder!

To remedy this behavior, you will need to teach—or re-teach—your doggo to react differently to food that is not theirs.

In other words, your pooch might be bored! The lack of physical and mental stimulation can lead to many behavioral problems, including stealing food

#15 I Caught Him Stealing A Slice Of Beef Cheek On The Taco Night

Image credits: tctochielleon

#16 I Just Want To Taste It

Image credits: kevinowdziej

#17 Kitten And Coffee

Image credits: purpleelephantdance

But as we can see, cats can commit this crime too. First and foremost they are natural-born hunters so even if you routinely lay out the very best cat food or best wet food in their bowls every day, it’s still in their nature to catch something.

Cats love to explore, hence why outdoor kitties often come back with a small rodent or bird from their excursions, but even this might not stop them from pouncing on your dinner!

#18 You Can Take The Kitty Out Of The Dumpster, But You Can't Take The Dumpster Out Of The Kitty

Image credits: qqeb

#19 Trying To Sneak A Steak Bite

Image credits: GallowBoob

#20 Climbed Up The Handles To Eat Cheese While I'm Cutting It

Image credits: bertabud

At first, it may be entertaining watching your cat sneak a bite, but it’s in your (and the animal's) best interest to put an end to this.

Cats have sensitive digestive systems and don’t process foods that are high in sugar or fat well enough.

Also, parasites can spread from the food that they've stolen, which is another risk that you don’t want to experience.

#21 Every Single Night. Doesn't Matter What's For Dinner

Image credits: creamycoolness

#22 I Left My Food Unattended For 2 Minutes, And My Cat Fell Asleep While Eating It

Image credits: SamanthaJK09

#23 Yesterday I Rescued This Kitten From A Cruel Life As A Stray, Today He Shamelessly Stole My Son’s Lunch. I’ve Taken In A Criminal

Image credits: BatMom525

Trained vet, Jo Woodnutt said, "Cats might steal food because they’re hungry, because they want attention, or because they like your food better than theirs!"

"Consider whether your cat could be hungry – did you forget to feed them? Have they recently been put on a diet?". If your cat appears hungry despite getting enough calories, Woodnutt recommends considering whether or not they have other symptoms. Hunger can be a sign of common cat conditions like hyperthyroidism and diabetes.

#24 Let Me Introduce You To The Freak Living In My Flat - Jax. I Caught Him Licking Our Sauce

Image credits: callmeanightmare

#25 The Art And The Artist

Image credits: rodsgo

#26 Not An Ounce Of Remorse

Image credits: Pelanty21

When your cat appears immediately when you get the frying pan out, it's possible that they are just begging for your attention or want to be involved, particularly if their young or extra curious. But they it could also be a sign of their dominant behavior, trying to assert their ‘right’ to what’s on your plate.

#27 I Spent An Entire Day Baking Challah Bread, Only To Have It Stolen

Image credits: MickFoley13

#28 I'm Just Trying To Peacefully Eat My Breakfast

Image credits: lilbopeachy

#29 My Puppy Decided He Also Wanted A Piece Of My Mom's Birthday Cake

Image credits: p4755166

Woodnutt says this most commonly happens because human food is interesting and tastes different from what they’re used to. "The added salt and sugar in our food can make it taste even nicer to cats. The different textures are exciting, too," she explained, "Some cats eat human food to get attention – even though it’s usually negative attention (telling them off), it’s better than nothing."

#30 Pizza Thief Caught In The Act

Image credits: Jason_Was_Here

#31 My Parent's Great Dane Stole The Coffee Mate

Image credits: shredallthegnar

#32 I Heard A Noise In The Pantry. This Fool Was In There Eating A Bag Of Raw Flour And Is Now Shocked That His Mouth Is Full Of Dough

Image credits: port-girl

The best way to deal with the problem is not to let it develop in the first place. If your cat begs, never feed tidbits and make sure any visitors know that’s the house rule. Any food accidentally dropped on the floor should be cleared up as soon as possible. Don’t leave food lying around, either because some cats are very accomplished thieves and can open cupboards or even boxes. 

#33 Smokes Stole A Pringle

Image credits: Blueeyedfoxie

#34 Lettuce-Stealing Little Thief

Image credits: i_hateeveryone

#35 Meet Harold, The Reason We Now Close Jars Of Pasta Sauce When We Recycle Them

Image credits: arlu3827

If you’ve inherited a cat with a problem – perhaps you’ve rehomed a cat from an elderly relative, or taken in a shelter cat – then you’ll need to go to greater lengths to retrain him. Never reward begging behavior with food from the table. You can feed your cat at a similar time to your own mealtime so that you can be sure he’s not actually hungry. (Cats in the wild prefer small, regular meals and may eat several times a day, so you could try feeding yours three or even four smaller meals during the day.)

Another great tool is distraction. You can get a cat treat ball and put his meal in that, so that they have to work a lot harder to get at it or offer a favorite toy. If your cat’s unwanted behavior is because he’s bored, then increasing playtimes can help.

For more mischievous pet-thieves, fire up our earlier picture collections here and here.

#36 "Put Them On A Raw Meat Diet." They Said. This Carb-Craving Criminal Pulled The Bagels Out Of The Cupboard

Image credits: BrentTse

#37 Sketti Thief

Image credits: paranormal_turtle

#38 Pretended He Was Sleeping, Then Slowly Moved Towards The Food

Image credits: danspud69

#39 She Looks Guilty

Image credits: veroconplatanos

#40 Mother, You Know That Muffin You Left On The Side? Well, It Exploded

Image credits: Jambohh

#41 He Stole A Stale Baguette I Was Saving To Make Breadcrumbs And He's Been Carrying It Around For Three Days

Image credits: alexg81

#42 Who Stole The Pizza Crust Off My Plate?

Image credits: SteigerStudio

#43 My 15-Year-Old Deaf Cocker Spaniel Thought He Was Being Sneaky Loudly Stealing Chips When The Kids Left The Pantry Open

Image credits: surfrock66

#44 No Kitty, It's Not For You

Image credits: blindstep87

#45 Breakfast With A Cat

Image credits: piglewiggle

#46 Honestly, I Have No Idea Where All That Cheese Went

Image credits: beckolyn

#47 Cheeto Thief

Image credits: krownidae

#48 Here's My 18-Year-Old Gentry Doing What She Does The Best. Trying To Steal Peoples Food

Image credits: JuniperJupiter

#49 She Stole My Bacon And Then Didn't Eat It

Image credits: leastcmplicated

#50 Every Morning, I Feed The Dog Outside So The Cats Don't Bother Her. Today I Was Not Fast Enough, So She Picked Out Something To Eat And Waited By The Door

Image credits: eatmycouch

#51 He Stole A Cheeseburger And Just Had It Sitting In His Mouth

Image credits: YoonminLife

#52 Spot The Thief During Our Pre-Holiday Dinner Last Night

Image credits: hellomisho

#53 I Turned My Back For 10 Seconds

Image credits: ILoveToads

#54 Someone Was Pretty Close To Stealing An Entire Snickers Bar

Image credits: VI0LENTINE

#55 My Husband Didn't Think Cats Would Eat A Burrito. He Was Wrong

Image credits: bellhall

#56 Always Wants My Water

Image credits: nta1646

#57 Somebody Got Into The Garden And Stole A Bell Pepper

Image credits: SoggyCereal12

#58 ‎"No. I Have No Idea Who Ate Your Can Of Spaghetti-Os Daddy"

Image credits: snowball_in_hell

#59 My Wife Doesn't Eat Her Pizza Crusts, But Jacob Is Happy To Steal Them The First Chance He Gets

Image credits: Starflaem

#60 I Left My Ice Cream For One Minute While Changing His Litter Box. Ungrateful Little Bastard

Image credits: Celtic_Cheetah_92

#61 Was Left Alone For 3 Seconds And Stole A Pancake Off The Table. No Regrets

Image credits: Severe_Cranberry5657

#62 Cookie Thief

Image credits: Curious-Plankton-968

#63 I Walked Out The Door To Go To Work But Realized I Left My Lunch In The Fridge. Went Back Inside To Find This

Image credits: bezbum

#64 Little Stinker Stole My Cheesecake Factory Bread

Image credits: misscreepypie

#65 She Wanted To Share My Supper

Image credits: reddit.com

#66 Working From Home Means Your Colleagues Are More Brazen About Stealing Your Lunch

Image credits: Responsible-Cook-629

#67 Mother, I Stole For You This Sausage From The Kitchen

Image credits: cloris97

#68 Bone Stole This Giant Zucchini Off The Table And Took It Outside. No Shame

Image credits: crab_app1es

#69 Excuse Me, Could You Help Me Find Who Ate This Yogurt?

Image credits: BigDende

#70 Croissant Robbery. The Suspect Was Caught In The Act

Image credits: Camnaess

#71 Butter Thief

Image credits: Qu33nMe

#72 Yes, That Is My Cat Trying To Steal Some Bagels

Image credits: smoking_gun

#73 I'm Just Going To Taste It

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#74 Little Lollipop Thief

Image credits: juza83

#75 Guess I'm Sharing My Pizza

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#76 Last Friday, Maddie Ate A Piece Of My Dad's Birthday Cake. Today She Ate A Good Portion Of Three Habanero Peppers. The Vet Warned Me That Tonight Is Going To Be Bad

Image credits: ermarie73

#77 This Adorable Little Jerk Eating My Sandwich While Standing On The Piece Of Bread I Gave Him

Image credits: Butterfly_Queef

#78 Cantaloupe Thief

Image credits: ifn

#79 He Broke Into The Snack Closet, Ate A Bunch Of Popcorn And Kibble. When He Couldn't Break Back Out He Peed Himself To Sleep

Image credits: Darenious

#80 Cookie Thief

Image credits: mango--enthusiasm

#81 Purrmione Is The Least Food Driven Cat I've Ever Had. However, I Caught Her Stealing Lettuce Today. What A Weirdo

Image credits: CoryVictorious

#82 When You Think Taco Bell Missed Part Of Your Order, But It Turns Out Your Cat Just Stole It

Image credits: FauxReeeal

#83 He Stole A Pancake

Image credits: chokymilkboy

#84 No, Mom, I Didn't Lick Your Cake. Why Do You Ask?

Image credits: awesome_possum76

#85 Who Stole My Tikka Masala?

Image credits: abirdbrain

#86 Significant Other Fell Asleep, So My Boy Stole The Triscuits Proudly

Image credits: Megclaycomb

#87 Guess Who Got Into A Bowl Of Spaghetti

Image credits: Sexy_Squid89

#88 Kitty Wants To Steal The Last Slice Of Pizza

Image credits: Complex-String6185

#89 Don't Leave Your Spaghetti Unattended

Image credits: PrimaryArgument167

#90 Never Leave Chip Dip Unattended

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#91 Excuse Me, Don't Mind If I Do

Image credits: Fickle-Tap3474

#92 She Stole A Half Dozen Fresh Bread Rolls And Hid Them Behind The Curtain

Image credits: cake-and-peonies

#93 My Daughter Walked Away For Just A Moment. Pupper Trotted Up To Me Super Proud Just As I Heard My Daughter Yelling About Where Her Pizza Was

Image credits: jasems78

#94 Pomegranate Thiefs

Image credits: intraepid

#95 Last Night There Were Four Rolls In The Bag, And This Morning I Found It Like This

Image credits: marasydnyjade

#96 I Lick The Cream

Image credits: AveryHardwood

#97 Two Successful Heists In One Day. She Got Caught Eating Out Of My Bowl. Pasta Sauce On Her Nose. In Her Head, I Bet She's Saying: "Today Was A Good Day"

Image credits: balmypalmtreez

#98 Xenon Stole A Pea Pod From The Vegetable Basket This Morning And Has Been Running Around The House With It In His Mouth

Image credits: Lily-M-B

#99 My Brother's Cat Being A Little Thief

Image credits: Subtunate

#100 Someone Dug My Snacks Out Of My Work Bag. This Was The Second Time. The First Time, It Was Torn And Empty

Image credits: Mrose87

#101 Guilty Of Eating My Dinner

Image credits: Burnvictim49percent

#102 I Can't Eat In Peace

Image credits: Shark-Fister

#103 She Stole My Breakfast

Image credits: xfireheart

#104 Just My Fat Cat Stealing My Munchies

Image credits: followthebunny

#105 This Thief Took An Apple As Soon As I Got Back From The Orchard

Image credits: sylvan_spriggan420

#106 Who Ate The Noodles And Chicken?

Image credits: Born_Examination_759

#107 I Got A Burrito At Work. I Leaned Over To Pick My Can Of Paint Up, And Aspen Snatched A Bite

Image credits: HappyTrails_

#108 Meatball Stealing My Tortellini

Image credits: residentslevil

#109 Our Little Tomato Thief

Image credits: TheBuGG

#110 The Gigantic Rat Had A Taste Of My Pasta Bake

Image credits: jedisannoying

#111 Cream Cheese Thief Was Caught

Image credits: Even-Charity-9545

#112 Sylvester Helping Himself To Breakfast

Image credits: greyhoundbrain

#113 Pizza With A Happy Ending

Image credits: Zoh4nn

#114 Pizza? I Haven't Seen Any Pizzahhh

Image credits: vitotittotitto

#115 My Sister's Kitty Stole My Spicy Ramen

Image credits: Iz_Izyan19

#116 My Neighbour's Cat, Frodo, Plotting To Steal Food. It Was Unsuccessful

Image credits: charlesofmarch

#117 I Live With A Thief

Image credits: Spare_Ribz

#118 He Weighed 3,5 Lbs And Ate An Entire Plate Of Spicy Sausage Biscuits And Gravy

Image credits: Cheridh21

#119 Someone Ate My Yogurt

Image credits: remkox

#120 Luka Got Caught Stealing A Ribeye

Image credits: LukaBeanie

#121 He Got Busted

Image credits: Zestyclose-Oven-1473

#122 I Went Outside To Throw A Can In The Recycling. I Left My Sandwich As Far Back On The Counter As I Could. He Ate The Lettuce, Turkey, And Cheese

Image credits: brewberry_cobbler

#123 Stole My Damn Bread

Image credits: sleddead

#124 I Caught This Guy Trying To Steal My Yogurt

Image credits: reddit.com

#125 Thief Detected

Image credits: Al3420