YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: An East Rutherford police officer was reviewing surveillance video of a suspected shoplifter at a local Rite Aid when the m an walked into the store and snatched a package of English muffins, authorities said.
As officers spoke with him, the muffins fell to the floor, they said.
Police called 57-year-old Michael Fitzpatrick of Rutherford a “serial shoplifter.”
On Tuesday, the manager of the Park Avenue Rite Aid flagged down Officer Anthony Bachmann and said that Fitzpatrick had shoplifted several bags of potato chips earlier that night after being caught with stolen razors the day before, East Rutherford Capt. Patrick Feliciano said.
Bachmann returned to the store Wednesday afternoon to watch surveillance video of the incidents. While he was there, Firtzpatrick showed up again, grabbing the English muffins, Feliciano said.
Fitzpatrick was released on a summons charging him with three counts of shoplifting — and was permanently barred from Rite Aid.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy EAST RUTHERFORD PD