Nearly naked man steals bread truck, delivers to random businesses

NEW YORK — A man stole a New York City bread truck and began delivering loaves of savory baked goods to random businesses, the bakery’s owner said Thursday.

David Bastar hopped into the Grimaldi’s Home of Bread truck on Manhattan’s Upper East Side early Monday while the real driver was making a delivery at a pizzeria, according to police.

Reportedly wearing only his underwear, Bastar then allegedly began dropping off baguettes, whole-wheat rolls and sourdough bread — but not to the bakery’s customers, said Joe Grimaldi, the owner of the baker in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens.

“The bread was left somewhere. Where I don’t know,” he said. “He dropped a lot of bread.”

Grimaldi said about $5,000 in bread was taken. The bakery later was able to accommodate all its customers.

“It’s a bizarre incident but nothing happened to the truck. No one was hurt. There was no damage. I got my truck back,” said Grimaldi.

Bastar, of Nanuet, was arrested later at LaGuardia Airport, where police say he wound up after tailgating a driver for several miles.

The driver became concerned about being followed and called police, said Erica Dumas, a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport.

Police determined that the truck had been stolen that morning.

Bastar, who was taken to a hospital for evaluation, was charged with criminal possession of stolen goods and driving without a license.

Grimaldi said a shuttle bus driver who witnessed the arrest called the bakery and said, “If you need a driver, I’ll work for you.”