Second suspect arrested in alleged break-in of memorabilia and alcohol from St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino’s office: NYPD – QNS

A teenager wanted in connection with a break-in at St. John’s University last month turned himself in to the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows on Tuesday.

He was arrested for burglary and trespassing for breaking into SJU basketball head coach Rick Pitino’s office on Tuesday night, August 20.

The 17-year-old, whose identity was not disclosed because he is a minor, allegedly stole sports memorabilia and bottles of alcohol from Pitino’s office at Carnesecca Arena on Tuesday evening, August 20.

The teenager was working with 25-year-old Emanuel Yakubov, who was arrested three days after the robbery and arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Aug. 24. He is charged with burglary, petty theft and illegal possession of stolen property for stealing liquor bottles and sports memorabilia from Pitino’s office, including an autographed basketball, a ceremonial dagger in a sheath, a Mardi Gras mask and a miniature megaphone estimated to be worth about $400, police said. Yakubov lives in a city-run homeless shelter at the Vue Hotel on 22nd Street near the Queensbridge Houses.

The teenager is reportedly a neighbor of Yakubov, but an NYPD spokeswoman declined to confirm this because he is a minor.

Surveillance video In the photo, the teen is seen walking down a hallway at Carnesecca Arena, holding the mini-megaphone while talking on a cell phone. Yakubov is seen walking next to the teen, holding the ceremonial dagger. They were also seen on surveillance video loading the stolen liquor bottles onto a moped in a parking garage before driving away east on Union Turnpike, police said.

According to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation, detectives acting on a tip from Crime Stoppers executed a search warrant at the Vue Hotel safe house on Friday, August 23, and recovered many of the stolen items. Yakubov was taken into custody and later told investigators they found the keys to Pitino’s office under a desk in the athletic department and forced their way into his office.

“St. John’s University is grateful for the NYPD’s quick response and recovery of the stolen property,” said university spokesman Brian Browne. “The safety of our campus community is critical and our cooperative work with law enforcement helps ensure that.”