A reporter turned into a detective to help track down an eight-week old kitten which was stolen from a pet shop.

Adam Smith, from the South Wales Echo, found the kitten called Little Boy at a house in Cardiff after receiving an anonymous tip-off, which came after the paper published CCTV pictures of the incident.

He challenged those living in the house to hand the kitten over, which they did, allowing Adam to then reunite him with pet shop owner Carol Ivory.

Following Adam’s investigation, police were investigating the suspected “kitnapping” and will speak to two people living at the house.

Carol Ivory and Little Boy have been reunited.

Adam said: “I went to the property and told them if they had the cat the best thing they could do would be to hand it back.

“They had seen the picture on the front of the Echo, so they knew the game was up. It was lovely to hand the cat back to Carol – she was thrilled and relieved to see him again.”

The kitten was in good health and had not been mistreated after being taken from the Albany Pets shop earlier this month.

Carol was looking after Little Boy and his mother for a friend when he disappeared and CCTV footage showed a woman putting the kitten into a handbag.

Carol said: “I was fearing the worst – the way she chucked it in the bag so roughly was really upsetting.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when the Echo turned up with him safe and sound.”

She said the owner of the kitten had been updated with developments and was delighted Little Boy had been returned safely.