Police: Woman Caught Ruby Red Handed Swiping Replica 'Wizard Of Oz' Slippers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The owners of a Staten Island hotel are calling it a cowardly heist.
As CBS 2's Scott Rapoport reported, a woman -- who definitely wasn't Dorothy -- allegedly walked off with a pair for "Wizard of Oz" ruby red slippers.
Though she tried to give authorities the slip, police said they believe they caught her ruby red handed.
The woman is accused of removing the pair of replica slippers from the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel on Staten Island earlier this month. And then she was apparently off to see the wizard.
The hotel owners, Richard and Lois Nicotra, said they paid $2,500 for the glittery shoes.
The couple said the shoes were on display to remind hotel guests that while there is no place like home, the hotel tries its best.
The Nicotras said the suspect obviously made herself at home, but must not have noticed the 50 surveillance cameras scattered throughout the hotel, which they say catch her slipper snatching with the help of two other men, who lifted the glass case the shoes were in, Rapoport reported.
"The two guys tip the glass back. She took the shoes and put 'em in her pocket book and went into the elevator," Richard said. "We see her getting off on the sixth floor with the shoes on."
The pair said she later left the hotel in a cab.
All of this raises that one all important, perplexing question: Why did she do it?
Whatever the reason, police said it's a case of grand larceny and are now asking for the public's help in finding the alleged slipper swiper, who after seeing herself in the video will have to realize she is not in Kansas anymore.
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