New York actor and comedian Michael Rapaport posted another online video Sunday from his local Rite Aid on the Upper East Side — this time saying the store is closing down because of incessant shoplifting.
The post was an update to a video Rapaport put on Instagram last week flipping out about a purported shoplifter brazenly walking out of the Manhattan Rite Aid with bags full of stolen goods.
“Back in my Rite Aid and there’s nothing to steal because this Rite Aid, like so many other Rite Aids, is closing down because everyone stole everything,” the “I Am Rapaport” podcaster says in the short clip Sunday, showing aisles of shelves that are completely empty.
The store, located at 80th Street and First Avenue, is closing Feb. 15, the actor said. Rite Aid confirmed the closure to The Post.
“And the workers here don’t know if they’re getting jobs. Congratulations, losers,” Rapaport added in the video.
In his Instagram post last week, Rapaport said, “I can’t believe I’m seeing this s–t.
“This f–king guy just filled his two bags up with everything in Rite Aid, right here on 80th [Street] and First Avenue is walking down the street like s–t is Gucci. I was watching him the whole time.”
In the video, which has nearly 300,000 views, Rapaport follows the alleged thief as the man strolls past a security guard and walks out the front door.
“My man just went Christmas shopping in January,” Rapaport said as the man walks down the street.
He tagged New York Mayor Eric Adams in the post.
Shoplifters making bold thefts at retail and grocery stores have been on the rise in recent months. Critics have blamed soft approaches to prosecutions that have emboldened people to commit low-level crimes.
Theft of anything under $1,000 is considered a misdemeanor and is unlikely to result in any significant punishment. Most thefts are not even reported to police.
The Rite Aid at the corner of 50th Street and Eighth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen is set to close Feb. 8 because of ceaseless thievery. Sources told The Post that thieves have run off with more than $200,000 worth of merchandise in the past two months alone.
A Post reporter followed a thief at the location as he packed four cases of beer into a canvas bag and walked out without incident.
“I know I do wrong,” the thief told The Post. “If they tell me put it back, I put it back.”
Store employees said the criminals come in sometimes twice a day with “laundry bags” and take what they please.
“They take whatever they want, and we can’t do anything about it. It’s why the store is closing. They can’t afford to keep it open,” the employee said.
Rite Aid employees said they’ve been told not to engage with the thieves in any way.