Smiling NYC criminals steal 450 bulletproof vests collected for Ukrainian first responders

New York City authorities released new photos this weekend showing the faces of six men wanted for allegedly stealing more than 400 bulletproof vests donated to support Ukrainian forces as they continue to battle against Putin’s invading forces.

400 bulletproof vests set to be donated to Ukraine stolen in NYC: cops

Wait-waht!? how can if be stolen but then also donated!? Aren't you glad the NYPD has so much body bulletproof vest they can just give it away!https://t.co/KARxAVCOeX

— Lee Golden (@LeeGolden6) March 17, 2022

According to a Fox News report, the suspects can be seen smiling and carrying large garbage bags – presumably stuffed with the vests – after allegedly breaking into the headquarters of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America in Manhattan’s East Village on March 15.

The footage reveals that the men forced the door open at around 2 p.m. and promptly removed the donated vests – most of which were gifted to the Ukrainian organizations by local law enforcement agencies. After collecting the vests, the individuals piled into three different vehicles and fled into Brooklyn, police records show.

According to the UCCA, the vests were ultimately meant for medics, humanitarian workers, and others who have joined the fight against the Russian military.

"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 UCCA spokesperson Andrij Dobriansky, NBC 4 New York reported.

"Who isn’t being supplied are territorial defenses, the people who are getting humanitarian supplies across. So these kinds of donations — whether they come from Suffolk County, we have a lot of police precincts in New Jersey and upstate New York also donating, these are why it’s important," Dobriansky added.

Shortly after the robbery was committed, Long Island’s Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office revealed to WNBC that the department had donated approximately 450 used, decommissioned vests to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America intended for Ukrainian medics and humanitarian workers. Although it remains unclear if those vests were among those stolen, Vicki DiStefano, a spokeswoman for Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr., told the outlet that she found the crime to be “despicable.”

"It is despicable that someone would break into a building to steal supplies and materials intended to aid those affected by this humanitarian crisis," she said.