Shoplifter At Lower Manhattan Rite Aid Flashes Gun At Guard: NYPD

LOWER MANHATTAN, NY — A person flashed a gun after getting confronted for trying to steal items from a Lower Manhattan Rite Aid, police said.

The robber attempted to walk out of the store Tuesday around 9:40 a.m. at 81 First Ave., near East Fifth Street, but was stopped by a security guard, police said.

Upon getting stopped, the person lifted up their shirt to display a gun, police said. They then continued out of the store and fled on a bike, police said.

There were no injuries, police said.

Shoplifting has been a well documented issue at New York City Rite Aid locations, including an incident at a Hell's Kitchen location at the beginning of 2022 where store sources told the New York Post that people had stolen over $200,000 in merchandise over a few months.

Anyone with information in regard to Tuesday's robbery is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).