Chaptzem Blog!      

A Brooklyn thief who needs his head examined swiped a $2,200 Jewish fur hat with the owner's name written inside - and then tried to sell it, prosecutors say.

Robert Giuff, 38, made the mistake of trying to sell the "shtreimel" - a velvet hat surrounded by fur- for $350 at a Williamsburg hat store, prosecutors said.

The shopkeeper found the name and phone number of the hat's owner, Miushe Horowitz, written inside the headpiece.

When Horowitz was reached, he said someone had broken into his car overnight, according to court documents. The accused topper-taker was arrested and charged with grand larceny.

"My client says he found it next to garbage on the street," said defense lawyer Adrian Lesher.

Giuff, who has seven prior misdemeanors and is currently in a court-mandated drug program, was ordered held on $5,000 bail.

A shtreimel, mainly worn by married men, can cost more than $5,000 and is the most expensive piece of Hasidic clothing.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/09/20/2011-09-20_fur_flies_after_punk_swipes_holy_hat.html