Thief makes sign of the CROSS before smashing his way into a Brooklyn clothing store

  • A man burglarized Ziani Fine Italian Clothing on Avenue U in Brooklyn at 5am on March 22
  • Subservience camera captured him doffing his cap and blessing himself with the sign of the cross before pulling off the smash-and-grab heist
  • Devout bandit got away with 18 items of men’s wear after smashing th storfront with a brick   

A thief appealed to a higher power for help by blessing himself with the sign of the cross before breaking into a Brooklyn clothing store – but the Lord was not on his side that day.

A surveillance camera that was trained on Ziani Fine Italian Clothing on Avenue U captured clear image of the devout crook’s face – and now police are releasing the video in hopes of identifying and tracking down the suspect.

According to the NYPD, the grab-and-go burglary took place at around 5am on March 22, during last week’s snowstorm, in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn.

Blasphemous bandit: A religious thief is seen doffing his cap before carrying out a store robbery in Brooklyn on March 22

Video shows the crook blessing himself with the sign of the cross

He seals the blessing with a kiss

Just like a prayer: Video shows the crook blessing himself with the sign of the cross in an apparent appeal for help with his criminal enterprise, or for forgiveness 

Back to business: The thug then picks up a brick to smash the window at Ziani Fine Italian Clothing on Avenue U

Back to business: The thug then picks up a brick to smash the window at Ziani Fine Italian Clothing on Avenue U

The crime took place at 5am on March 22 during the most recent snowstorm 

The crime took place at 5am on March 22 during the most recent snowstorm 

The devout Christian then smashes his way through the window and makes a beeline for the racks

The devout Christian then smashes his way through the window and makes a beeline for the racks

This undated image of the men's clothing store shows the business prior to the burglary  

This undated image of the men’s clothing store shows the business prior to the burglary  

The CCTV footage shows the blasphemous bandit doffing his baseball cap as a sign of respect, making the sign of the cross over his chest and then proceeding to break the seventh commandment: ‘thou shalt not steal.’

The video shows the God-fearing robber picking up a brick and hurling it at the storefront. He then climbs inside through the shattered window, makes a beeline towards the racks, grabs about 18 items of clothing and flees the way he came.

He was last seen running northbound on East 1 Street. He was described as wearing black and white gloves, a black baseball cap, a black jacket, black jean and grey sneakers.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the religiously inclined outlaw is being asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). 

Looking for church attire? He grabs 18 items of clothing from the racks 

Looking for church attire? He grabs 18 items of clothing from the racks 

With his haul in hand, the thief retraces his steps and flees the way he came 

With his haul in hand, the thief retraces his steps and flees the way he came 

Have you seen him? The crook was last seen running northbound on East 1 Street, wearing  black and white gloves, a black baseball cap, a black jacket, black jean and grey sneakers

Have you seen him? The crook was last seen running northbound on East 1 Street, wearing  black and white gloves, a black baseball cap, a black jacket, black jean and grey sneakers

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