Grinning package thief swipes $17k of sports cards from Brooklyn building: cops

· New York Post

A package thief swiped three collector sports cards worth about $17,400 from the lobby of a Brooklyn building Monday afternoon, cops said.

The stolen merchandise — which was wrapped inside multiple packages — included rare basketball cards featuring the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, police sources said.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers walks upcourt during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 17, 2009. Getty Images

The brazen crook was caught on camera gleefully smiling as he walked off with the high-priced haul, dressed casually in an orange ball cap, a sleeveless Brooklyn Brewery T-shirt, camo shorts and flip flops, cops said.

The brazen crook was caught on camera gleefully smiling as he walked off with the high-priced haul. DCPI

He slipped inside the building near West End Avenue and Shore Boulevard around 2 p.m. and made off on foot with multiple packages containing the cards, according to police.

Surveillance video appeared to show him leaving the mail room of a residential building.

It wasn’t clear if the accused crook knew what was inside the valuable packages when he grabbed the mail.

The thief was dressed casually in an orange ball cap, a sleeveless Brooklyn Brewery T-shirt, camo shorts and flip flops. DCPI

Certain sports cards can go for staggering prices depending on rarity, whether or not a player has autographed it and the card’s condition. 

The most coveted cards are usually limited edition rookie prints in pristine shape.