Thieves stole approximately 400 bulletproof vests designated for humanitarian workers in Ukraine.
The bulletproof vests were stolen from a Manhattan-based nonprofit organization, New York Police Department said on Wednesday. The vests had been provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and stored inside the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s headquarters, according to officials.
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The theft of the vests was reported after someone discovered the break-in around 9:19 a.m, police said. Upon arrival, police found that people had forced their way into the building. The vests in question were stored in a hallway and were “visible to the public,” according to officials. They were scheduled to be sent over to Ukraine and used by humanitarian workers and medics, officials said.
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Surveillance footage from a deli across the street revealed that three different vans pulled up in front of the building, with multiple people in masks exiting each vehicle and entering the building casually, NBC 4 reported. The people then left the facility with the vests in hand before driving away.
“While we cannot confirm that the items the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office donated are the items in question, it is despicable that someone would break into a building and steal supplies and materials intended to aid those affected by this humanitarian crisis,” a spokesperson for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office told the New York Post. “We offer the NYPD any assistance it needs in locating these stolen items.”
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Police did not mention if anything else was stolen.
The NYPD said it is investigating the case.
