A New York City man was arrested for stealing memorabilia from legendary St. John’s University basketball coach Rick Pitino’s office. Emanuel Yakubov denied involvement when confronted by The Post, but security footage showed him and an accomplice taking items such as a signed basketball, ceremonial dagger, bullhorn, mask, and bottles of alcohol. The accomplice was seen speaking openly on the phone while walking through the halls with stolen items in their hands. Yakubov faces charges of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree criminal trespassing, petit larceny, and third-degree burglary.
Yakubov was arraigned in Queens court after being arrested by officers with the 107th Precinct. St. John’s University expressed gratitude for the quick response by the NYPD and the recovery of the stolen property. Pitino, who has coached the men’s basketball team since 2023, shared online that he was mainly bothered by the theft of a bottle of wine worth over $1,500. The university emphasized the importance of safety and security on campus and highlighted their cooperative relationship with law enforcement to ensure such incidents are dealt with promptly.
The stolen items taken from Pitino’s office included a signed basketball, ceremonial dagger, bullhorn, mask, and bottles of alcohol. Security footage showed Yakubov and his accomplice carrying the stolen items in plain sight without making much effort to conceal their identities. Pitino joked online that he was particularly upset about the theft of a bottle of wine that was worth a significant amount, indicating that the value of the items taken was not the main concern for him.
Yakubov was taken into custody on charges of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree criminal trespassing, petit larceny, and third-degree burglary. Despite his denial of involvement, the footage clearly shows him and his accomplice committing the crime. Pitino’s office robbery was characterized as a clumsy heist due to the perpetrator’s lack of caution while walking through the halls of the university with the stolen items openly visible in their hands.
St. John’s University issued a statement expressing gratitude for the prompt action taken by the NYPD in arresting Yakubov and recovering the stolen property. The university emphasized the importance of the safety and security of their campus community, stating that their cooperative relationship with law enforcement helps ensure that such incidents are resolved efficiently. Pitino, while acknowledging the theft of valuable memorabilia, expressed humor about the situation online, highlighting the theft of an expensive bottle of wine that left him particularly upset.
In conclusion, the arrest of Emanuel Yakubov for stealing memorabilia from Rick Pitino’s office at St. John’s University highlighted the importance of campus security and cooperation between law enforcement and the university community. The clumsy heist, captured on security footage, showed Yakubov and his accomplice brazenly carrying stolen items with little effort to conceal their identities. Pitino, while humorous about the situation, emphasized the significance of the theft of a bottle of wine worth a substantial amount. The swift action by the NYPD in arresting Yakubov and recovering the stolen property demonstrated the effectiveness of partnerships between law enforcement and educational institutions in ensuring the safety and security of campus environments.
