NYC homeless man barefoot again

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NEW YORK, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A barefoot homeless man who became famous last week after a kind New York City police officer bought him a pair of boots is again going around shoeless.

On Nov. 14, NYPD officer Lawrence DePrimo bought Jeffrey Hillman a pair of winter boots after noticing he had no shoes, The New York Times reported. The interaction was immortalized when a tourist snapped a picture on her phone's camera and posted it online.

However, since Hillman received his new shoes, some passersby have noticed he hasn't been wearing them.

"Those shoes are hidden. They are worth a lot of money," Hillman said Sunday. "I could lose my life."

Hillman said he is very thankful for the kind gesture, but was taken aback by all the attention that had come his way.

"I was put on YouTube, I was put on everything without permission. What do I get?" he said. "This went around the world, and I want a piece of the pie.

"I appreciate what the officer did, don't get me wrong. I wish there were more people like him in the world."