The shoplifter knew the geography of the big gleaming Target store in TriBeCa as well as he knew his dingy little $20-a-week room uptown.

He popped through the sliding front door, where a security guard stood posted. No sense trying to sneak in — the guards all knew him on sight. In his head, a timer was ticking, like a shot clock. Ninety seconds. That was how long it would take for the police to respond to the 911 call the security guard would be making right now.

He hurried past the guard to get to the pharmacy area downstairs. The nearest route down was the escalator going up.

The shoplifter, David Andino, clambered down that escalator, hurtling past shoppers heading up.

Andino scooped what he could into a laundry bag, seeking out the brands he knew he could easily sell. Aveeno lotion, Cetaphil cleanser, CeraVe moisturizer. Sensodyne toothpaste, Crest White Strips.

Ninety seconds.

He raced back up the escalator, past the guard, and back onto Greenwich Street and into the nearby Chambers Street subway station.

He boarded an uptown train, and the doors closed behind him. Success. Tomorrow, he would be back again.