Let that sink in. They took the collar off first. That's not an impulse decision — that's premeditated cat theft.

The cat belongs to Grace Orchids, one of the vendors at the flower market, where the animal was apparently a beloved fixture. A police report has been filed, and surveillance footage captured the vehicle — a CR-V with California plates 8TMP716 — leaving the scene on Saturday.

Now, in a functioning city with functioning law enforcement priorities, you'd think a police report plus a license plate plus surveillance footage would be enough to resolve this pretty quickly. But this is San Francisco, where car break-in victims can hand SFPD a suspect's home address and still hear nothing back. So forgive us for not holding our breath.

Here's what's frustrating about stories like this: the evidence trail is basically gift-wrapped. Plate number. Video. Witnesses. If SFPD can't follow up on this one, it says everything about how seriously low-level theft — yes, a living animal counts — gets treated in this town.

We talk a lot about the erosion of consequences in San Francisco. The big headline crimes get the attention, but it's the small stuff — the daily indignities that go unanswered — that slowly convince people the social contract is optional. Stealing a shop cat from a flower vendor in broad daylight is exactly that kind of act. It's not violent, it's not dramatic, but it's the kind of thing that makes people feel like the city simply doesn't work.

If you recognize the vehicle or know the people involved, do the right thing and get the cat back to Grace Orchids. And SFPD — the plate number is right there. Ball's in your court.