A kitchen counter may not look like a big deal to you, but to your pet, trust me, it’s the holy grail, a promised land, a gold mine all in one. Its captivating aromas, mouth-watering sights, and unforgettable flavors make it virtually irresistible for any four-legged friend to turn into a serial thief.

Remember that piece of a leftover muffin you were about to dig into until you turned around for a sec? This compilation by Bored Panda is a humble farewell to all the delicious bites that got stolen without mercy.

Luckily, these doggos and cattos have all been caught red-handed while committing their petty crimes, but even if we all forgive them, it doesn’t mean they won’t do it again. And again. Forever.

After you're done with this post, don't forget to check out a previous batch of four-legged red-handed criminals with a big appetite here and here.

#1 He Started Barking At The Door, When I Got Up To Look Outside He Ran Back A Stole A Slice Of My Pizza. No One At The Door

Image credits: Detective51

#2 Just Want To Apologize To Any Of Our Neighbors Who Are Missing A Full Rack Of Ribs

Image credits: lovewhatreallymatters

#3 I Guess We Will Never Know What Happened To The Catnip

Image credits: anlyin

To find out more about why our pets love stealing food so much, Bored Panda reached out to Kate Mornement, a qualified animal behaviorist and consultant based in Melbourne who runs the animal behavior consultancy “Pets Behaving Badly.”

Kate said that some pets are notorious food stealers because “they're more motivated by food than other pets and their prior attempts to steal food have been reinforced (rewarded).”

The animal behaviorist gave an example: “a dog who has successfully stolen a whole roast chicken off the kitchen bench is likely to repeat the behavior given future opportunities.” If the act of attempting to steal food really pays off, the chances are high your furry companion will repeat it.

#4 Egg Thief

Image credits: bbykaat

#5 Sneak Thief Caught In The Act - That's A Nose In The Hole

Image credits: ILikeCuteGifsAndICannotLie

#6 Smart Cat

Image credits: radtoria

Kate explained that stealing food, which is also known as "counter surfing," is “an opportunistic behavior.” It is solely based on realizing that such behavior pays off, so animals are drawn to repeat it.

“It has nothing to do with being dominant; rather, it's influenced by previous experiences finding food on kitchen benches and tables,” she concluded.

#7 Just Taking A Nap After Eating All The Strawberry Jam

Image credits: esberat

#8 When A Cat Runs To The Fridge Every Time It Opens, A Sign Is Necessary

Image credits: carrot.tthe.cat

#9 My Girlfriend's Cat Likes To Steal Bagel Bites, When You Catch Him He Pretends To Be Asleep. Meet Neji

Image credits: eclipseb2k2

The good news is that you can indeed train your pet not to steal food “by making an incompatible behavior, such as staying on their mat, more reinforcing than investigating food in the kitchen.”

Kate said that this can be done by frequently rewarding your pet with high-value treats for staying on their mat while you are preparing or eating food. “It's important to avoid leaving food on countertops and tables outside of training sessions or when you cannot supervise your pet,” she added.

Be patient, and “over time and with repetition, your pet should be less likely to steal food,” the pet behaviorist concluded.