NEW YORK — A thorny thief swiped a gold-plated rose that was part of a 9/11 memorial display at a Midtown Manhattan church, cops said Thursday.

The rose was part of a commemorative display at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on W. 31st St. near Seventh Ave. and down the block from Penn Station.

The crook entered the church around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday before breaking the eighth commandment and walking off with the rose.

Cops released surveillance footage of the suspect running off clutching the rose in hopes of generating tips from the public that would help them identify and locate him.

The metal flower served as the centerpiece of a 9/11 memorial honoring those who died in the terrorist attack, rising from pieces of twisted steel taken from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

The church’s longtime pastor, Father Mychal Judge, was a fire department chaplain who was crushed by falling rubble while praying for victims and rescuers after the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

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