By Sasha Gonzales
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In what has become a disturbing trend in the borough, a shoplifter wielding a hypodermic needle ripped off a Rite Aid store in the Bronx—after threatening a a clerk with his makeshift weapon, authorities said.
The unidentified man pilfered 36 cans of Monster Energy drink from the shop on West Fordham Road in Fordham Manor last weekend, threatening the worker with the needle when confronted, according to the NYPD.
It’s not the first time this year someone has used a needle to pull off a local crime. In April, a man armed with a hypodermic needle used it to knock off a terrified cell phone store clerk at a Metro PCS in Morissania, police said.
The alleged robber was later arrested, police said.
Other criminals have also successfully utilized the tactic, with one brandishing a needle during street robberies.
Anyone with information about the Rite Aid incident is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.