A 25-year-old man has been arrested for stealing a ceremonial sword and bullhorn from Coach Rick Pitino's office at St. John's University in New York City. The suspect, Emanuel Yakubov, was apprehended by the police one day after surveillance footage was released, showing two individuals carrying the stolen items down a hallway in the building.
Yakubov, a resident of Queens where the university is located, faces charges of burglary, petit larceny, trespassing, and possession of stolen property. He is currently in custody, with no information available regarding legal representation at this time.
The theft occurred on Tuesday night when two unauthorized individuals entered the university athletics department offices and made off with several items before fleeing on a moped. One suspect remains at large as of Saturday.
In response to the incident, a university spokesperson expressed gratitude for the swift action taken by the NYPD in recovering the stolen property. The safety and security of the campus community are a top priority, with the collaborative efforts between the university and law enforcement agencies playing a crucial role in maintaining a secure environment.
Rick Pitino, a renowned Hall of Fame coach, was appointed by St. John's last year with the aim of revitalizing the university's basketball program, which had its peak success in the 1980s within the Big East conference.
