New York City authorities are searching for six thieves who allegedly stole more than 400 bulletproof vests donated months ago to help the Ukrainian war effort after Russian forces invaded.
The NYPD released new photos showing the six suspects, some seen smiling and carrying large garbage bags, after they allegedly broke into the headquarters for the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America located in the East Village section of Manhattan on March 15.
The thieves broke into the building around 2 p.m. and stole about 400 bulletproof vests donated from various law enforcement agencies and stored at the organizations’ offices.
The suspects loaded the vests into three different vehicles that fled into Brooklyn, investigators said. On Friday, the NYPD also released a photo of one of those vehicles, a white van.
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office donated some 450 used, decommissioned vests to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America intended for Ukrainian medics and humanitarian workers, however, it was not clear if the vests donated from that agency were among those stolen, WNBC reported.
“It is despicable that someone would break into a building to steal supplies and materials intended to aid those affected by this humanitarian crisis,” Vicki DiStefano, a spokeswoman for Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr., told the outlet.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.
