Prescription Drug Theif Hits 10 Pharmacies in One Month
Posted on October 11, 2010Headlines continue to shout the latest in pharmaceutical robberies. As the prescription drug addiction problem continues to grow, pharmacies are increasingly vulnerable targets. A recent report in the Calgary Herald tells of the rampage of one addict who terrorized pharmacies in search of his prize.
Cory Alan Sharlow was sometimes armed and always desperate when he would pounce on a pharmacy. His MO was well defined each time as he would steal a car, rob a pharmacist and then make his getaway. His purpose was always to secure the OxyContin pills his body desperately craved.
His plan appeared to be foolproof and he set out to rob 10 pharmacies in just one month. After that rampage, he was caught and then jailed. Sharlow is described as the typical addict who is driven by his addiction and desperation.
OxyContin is often the targeted drug given its ability to deliver a high euphoric feeling when crushed as it releases a high dosage all at once. Addicts will soon find themselves lying, cheating and even violating their own sense of ethics simply to satisfy a habit. The opioids taken are so powerful; the desperation is heightened when the addict cannot find his or her next dose.
In Calgary, police noted 48 pharmacy robberies last year, which more than doubled the rate from 2008. In almost every situation, the thieves were after OxyContin. This year, the number of robberies has dropped; concern is still high among pharmacists and law enforcement. They understand how powerful the draw is for the drug and until this epidemic is under control – they will stay on alert.
