Detectives Train Pharmacists to Thwart Robberies
Posted on October 15, 2010As prescription drug addiction continues to gain traction among users of all ages, pharmacies continue to be targets for crime. Addicts seeking a fix of painkillers often see the local pharmacy as their best access, resulting to robbery to secure what their body needs.
Now, in a recent News on 6 report, robbery detectives share with pharmacies how they can protect themselves from such crimes. This effort included a training class for area pharmacists, called a prescription for protection.
Tulsa detectives want pharmacists to know what to watch out for before a robbery occurs and how to make their stores more secure. They also want pharmacists to know what to do to make sure authorities capture the perpetrators faster.
One pharmacy participating in the training had a long history of focusing on personal service to all customers. After a robbery in February, however, that focus had to change. The pharmacist once found pride in his customer service and now he has been trained to look for disguises and distinguishing marks like tattoos. He has also added security cameras to detect warning signs.
Robbery detectives believe training pharmacists is a first line defense against robberies. One word of advice given to those attending the training is that pharmacy robberies are very similar to bank robberies in that the perpetrators often hand over a note and are often armed.
Detectives are encouraging pharmacists to implement many of the same rules used today in banks, requiring people to remove hats, hoodies and sunglasses. By taking simple steps, their goal is to make it more difficult for pharmacies to be targeted and for criminals to get away with their crime.
