NYC Burlington store guard turns tables on armed would-be shoplifter, 15, by opening fire: sources

A Burlington Coat Factory security guard shot at an armed would-be shoplifter who stormed into the store on Sunday – after the teenager threatened to kidnap and shoot her, sources said.

The 15-year-old boy was part of a crew of four masked troublemakers who were turned away as they tried to enter the store at the corner of Pennsylvania and Wortman avenues in East New York around 4:20 p.m. Sunday, according to cops and law enforcement sources.

When they were booted from the clothing store for refusing to take off the masks, they warned the 60-year-old security guard – a retired cop – that they would return to kidnap and shoot her, the sources said. 

The young menace did return as promsied, this time apparently brandishing a gun, according to the sources.

The guard fired off three rounds at the teen gunman, who scurried away and ran for his life, cops and sources said.

But police caught up with the teen on Monday, the sources said. 

He was arrested and charged with burglary and menacing, according to the sources.

A spokesperson for the retail chain did not immediately return a request for comment.

The crime comes nearly three months after a 15-year-old migrant allegedly shot a tourist and fired at a police officer in a robbery-gone-wrong at a JD Sports store in the heart of Times Square, authorities said. 

Retail theft is up about 6% citywide so far this year – with 19,475 such incidents reported through Sunday, compared to 18,397 during the same period in 2023, according to the latest NYPD statistics.