400 used bulletproof vests bound for Ukraine are stolen in NYC

Hundreds of donated bulletproof vests bound for Ukraine to help protect those fighting the Russian invasion, were stolen from a New York City non-profit office, police said Wednesday.

The tactical vests, which were donated by local law enforcement, were taken sometime overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday from a building on Second Avenue that houses two Ukrainian organizations, the New York Post reported.

The theft was discovered around 9am Wednesday. ‘Approximately 400 bulletproof vests’ were stolen, NYPD Sergeant Edward Riley said. 

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office made a large donation of vests last week. 

‘It is despicable that someone would break into a building to steal supplies and materials intended to aid those affected by this humanitarian crisis,’ Vicki DiStefano, a sheriff’s office spokesperson told WABC.

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Surveillance footage shows three vans pulling up outside the building, which houses the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian National Women’s League

Pictured: security footage from a nearby store shows another man and van involved in the overnight robbery of roughly 400 bulletproof vests between Tuesday and Wednesday

Pictured: security footage from a nearby store shows another man and van involved in the overnight robbery of roughly 400 bulletproof vests between Tuesday and Wednesday

Several hooded men are then seen carrying out boxes, believed to contain the vests, and loading them into the vehicles

Several hooded men are then seen carrying out boxes, believed to contain the vests, and loading them into the vehicles

Several of the tactical vests stolen between Tuesday and Wednesday were destined for Ukraine to help against the Russian invasion

Pictured: one of the hooded suspects wanted for stealing tactical vests meant for Ukraine between Tuesday and Wednesday

Several of the tactical vests, left, were destined for Ukraine to help against the Russian invasion. One of the suspects, right, leaves a van after loading it with stolen vests

The tactical vests, which were donated by local law enforcement, were taken from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, pictured

The tactical vests, which were donated by local law enforcement, were taken from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, pictured

Surveillance footage shows three vans pulling up outside the building, which houses the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian National Women’s League. Several hooded men are then seen carrying out boxes, believed to contain the vests, and loading them into the vehicles, WNBC-TV reported. 

Police said the thieves likely broke in through the front door. 

The decommissioned vests had been headed to Ukraine, where they would have helped support Ukrainian forces as they fight the ongoing Russian invasion. 

SCSO donated vests that had been used for five years, however officials said that they were still useful enough to offer protection in the war.  

The plan was for the donated vests to be shipped by plane to Poland and then transported into Ukraine, Andrij Dobriansky, a spokesperson for the UCCA said last week.    

They were going to be used by civilian security and medical teams, officials said, not he military.  

Police investigate the door which likely was used to gain access to the tactical vests

Police investigate the door which likely was used to gain access to the tactical vests

The vests, pictured, were used by the sheriff's office and decommissioned after five years of use, however officials said that they are still useful enough to offer protection in warfare

The vests, pictured, were used by the sheriff’s office and decommissioned after five years of use, however officials said that they are still useful enough to offer protection in warfare

Pictured: boxes of tactical vests, which were intended on being sent to aid the Ukrainian war effort against Russia, prior to being stolen from Lower Manhattan earlier this week

Pictured: boxes of tactical vests, which were intended on being sent to aid the Ukrainian war effort against Russia, prior to being stolen from Lower Manhattan earlier this week

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine tweeted an effort to raise funds to replace the stolen vests

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine tweeted an effort to raise funds to replace the stolen vests

Dobriansky said the theft could not have come at a worse time for Ukrainians, who already are feeling powerless amid the invasion. 

‘People right now in our community, they’re either in church praying, or everyone is feeling disenfranchised. They have no power right now, and then this happens, and that absolutely affects people,’ said Dobriansky. 

Meanwhile, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine tweeted an effort to raise funds to replace the stolen vests. 

‘400 bulletproof vests about to be sent to Ukraine have just been stolen from a Ukrainian community center on the Lower East Side. Disgusting,’ Levine tweeted.

‘NYPD investigating. Let’s help @UkrCongComAm raise funds to replace these.’

Levine added a Mighty Cause link in his tweet, which already had raised $544,515 towards replacing the stolen vests as of Thursday.

No arrests had been made as of Thursday.