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New York City man accused of stealing sword and bullhorn from coach Rick Pitino’s office in St. John’s
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New York City man accused of stealing sword and bullhorn from coach Rick Pitino’s office in St. John’s

NEW YORK — A 25-year-old man has been arrested for stealing a ceremonial sword and a bullhorn from the office of coach Rick Pitino at St. John’s University, New York City police said Saturday.

Emanuel Yakubov was arrested on Friday, a day after police released surveillance footage showing two men walking through a hallway in the building, one carrying the stolen sword and the other the megaphone.

Yakubov, who lives in Queens, where the Catholic institution is located, was charged with burglary, petty theft, trespassing and possession of stolen property, police said. He remained in custody Saturday. It was not known whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

According to police, the theft occurred Tuesday night when two individuals gained access to the university’s athletic department offices “without permission” and stole several items before fleeing on a motorcycle.

The second suspect was still at large on Saturday, police said.

“St. John’s University is grateful for the NYPD’s swift response and recovery of stolen property,” university spokesman Brian Browne said in a statement. “The safety and security of our campus community is essential, and our cooperative relationship with law enforcement helps ensure that.”

Pitino, a New York City native who grew up on Long Island, is a Hall of Fame coach who was hired last year by St. John’s in hopes of reviving the once-storied Big East program that had its heyday in the 1980s.