NYPD
QUEENS — Police are looking for a thief who swiped an 18th century cup worth more than $20,000 from an Astoria store, NYPD officials said.
It was stolen from Antiques Reader, Inc., on Crescent Street, on July 17 while the store was open, police said. The three-inch high antique cup, carved from jade, was only in the store for one day before going missing.
The prized piece features an archaic-style dragon motif and geometric shapes etched on its side, workers said. Antique Reader Inc. purchased the cup for $15,000 from a dealer named David Cheng in New York.
"It is probably the most gorgeous piece we have," said Kalu Wu, 28, who owns Antiques Reader.
Wu believed one of the shop's regular consigners may have stolen the cup.
Workers said five people — three men and one couple — visited the store between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., when the cup was suspected to be stolen.
Surveillance video showed a man taking something from a table where the cup was last seen at around 1:30 p.m.
The footage showed the customer taking an item off the table and putting it in a large paper shopping bag.
Police could not confirm whether or not they were investigating consigners of the shop.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477). Members of the public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting tips to CRIMES (274637), then entering TIP577.
