FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A man caught stealing 44 packs of gum, along with a pair of sandals, deodorant and body wash, from a FiDi Duane Reade threatened to shoot an employee before running out of the store, police said.
Police said 50-year-old Mark Graham grabbed the $337 worth of goods, which included an assortment of Orbit and Trident packs, from a shelf of the 44 Wall St. store at about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday.
When a 24-year-old store employee confronted Graham, he told her "back off or I'll shoot you," before fleeing the shop, according to a criminal complaint with the Manhattan DA's office.
Police were able to arrest the Graham soon after the alleged crime.
He was charged with third-degree robbery, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. He's being held on $5,000 bail and is due back in court on June 17.
Request for comment from his Legal Aid lawyer was not immediately returned.
