A pair of thieves broke into the athletic offices of St. John’s University — possibly the office of St. John’s Red Storm basketball coach Rick Pitino — taking an autographed basketball, police said Thursday.
Cops couldn’t immediately confirm media reports that the basketball, a ceremonial short sword in a sheath, and a mini bullhorn were taken from Pitino’s office.
The thieves crept onto the college’s Queens campus on Goethals Ave. at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday and forced their way into the building. Once inside, they swiped the basketball, sword, and bullhorn from an office, cops said.
Police recovered surveillance footage of the two men, one carrying the stolen bullhorn, the other holding the sword, as they walked down the building hallway.
The suspects left the campus on a moped and were last seen heading westbound on Union Turnpike, cops said.
Cops on Thursday released surveillance images of the thieves in the hopes someone recognizes them.
Pitino’s long and often controversial coaching career included several years with the New York Knicks in the late 1980s. He was head coach at Louisville for more than 15 years before being fired amid a bribery probe.
Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential
University Spokesperson Brian Browne confirmed the theft was form the athletic department.
“On Tuesday, August 20, at approximately 8 p.m., a theft occurred at St. John’s University, Queens Campus,” he said. “Property was stolen from an office in the Athletics Department. The University shared surveillance footage with the NYPD and is assisting in the ongoing investigation.”
— With Cayla Bamberger
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