A 25-year-old man was recently taken into custody by New York City police for stealing a ceremonial sword and bullhorn from Coach Rick Pitino’s office at St. John’s University. The arrest of Emanuel Yakubov occurred on Friday, following the release of surveillance footage depicting two individuals in the building carrying the stolen items. Yakubov, a resident of Queens near the university, faces charges of burglary, petit larceny, trespassing, and possession of stolen property. As of Saturday, he remained in custody without legal representation.
The theft occurred on a Tuesday night when two unauthorized individuals accessed the university athletics department offices and took several items before escaping on a moped. The police reported that one suspect remains at large as of Saturday. St. John’s University expressed gratitude for the swift response of the NYPD and the recovery of the stolen items. University spokesperson Brian Browne emphasized the significance of campus security and collaboration with law enforcement.
Rick Pitino, a renowned Hall of Fame coach born in New York City and raised on Long Island, joined St. John’s last year with the intention of revitalizing the university’s basketball program, which had its prime in the 1980s.