Westfield Woman Charged In Violent Cat Custody Dispute: Police

NEW BRITAIN BOROUGH, PA — A Westfield woman is facing multiple charges in what authorities in Pennsylvania say was a burglary and assault over possession of a cat.

Helen Delpopolo, 27, of Westfield and Lauren Bowser, 34, of Somerville are charged with burglary, criminal trespass, and assault in connection with the incident that occurred just outside of Doylestown on Thursday.

Central Bucks Regional Police say the two woman broke into a home, attempted to steal a cat and attacked the homeowner when she tried to intervene. Officers responded to the scene around 11:30 a.m. for a report of disturbance and soon learned the physical dispute was over a possession of a cat.

Bowser and Delpopolo believed they were the cat’s rightful owners, police said. In an attempt to retrieve the animal, the pair chased the victim into her home, broke a sliding door and attacked her in the living room, police said.

The pair allegedly proceeded to chase the victim up the stairs, breaking through a bedroom door and further assaulting the victim, police said.

The victim sustained multiple injuries, authorities said.

Bowser and Delpopolo were arraigned and bail was set at 10 percent of $50,000. They were both remanded to Bucks County Prison.

Both are awaiting a preliminary hearing and remain jailed as of Friday, court documents show.