Guest Author - Bonnie Sayers

No matter where you happen to live, you most likely have read or seen on the news about armed robberies taking place at neighborhood pharmacies. These robberies are on the rise and have increased dramatically all over the country.

This makes me feel uncomfortable when I see them happening in Southern California, where I reside. Innocent customers can get caught in the middle of these robbery attempts. Some pharmacies keep these prescription painkillers locked behind the counter. Most pharmacies have video cameras installed as well. I have noticed that the door to enter the pharmacy is always locked so that another person from inside needs to let another person in. These are all good precautions to keep the pharmacist and clerks safe with the medicines in their sight and reach.

After reading numerous news reports of these robberies I noted that they frequently occur at the time the pharmacy is closing. I also read of some that take place when the pharmacy is opening. These occur at local neighborhood pharmacies as well as well known chains.

The prescription painkillers and tranquilizers these robbers are after include - Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet and Xanax.


While researching what these drugs are actually used for and their side effects I came across many websites offering these medications online without a prescription. Do use caution when going this route.

Perhaps your pharmacy has one of these new kiosks to dispense refills. Rite Aid launched their first Script Center prescription refill kiosk in 2006 at a Pharmacy in Pennsylvania. How Drug Kiosks Work

Rx Patrol and Crime Stoppers have a website to report an incident for Pharmacies plus an incident database and security checklist. Here is a listing of their tips for each month.

Here are some tips that we as consumers of the pharmacies can utilize to keep safe while purchasing our prescriptive medicines that I have put together:

1. Call ahead to make sure your prescription is ready.

2. Try finding a pharmacy within your insurance network that offers free deliveries.

3. The Walgreens pharmacy chain has drive through windows. Check their site to find one near you.

4. Have the Nurse at the Doctor's office call in the prescription to avoid long delays. This is most helpful when dealing with medications for sick children.

5. Avoid visiting the Pharmacy at closing time.

6. Consider switching from your neighborhood pharmacy to one within Target, Costco or Walmart. These stores have security personnel and might be a deterent to prospective robbers.

7. Order your refills online and choose the date and time to pick them up.

8. Visit a pharmacy before switching, even if there is a coupon incentive for first time. Make note of the location and proximity to the entrance/exit of the store.

9. Check into your grocery store and see if their pharmacy is part of your insurance network. This may be a safe alternative that saves you time in the process. Some grocery store chains in New England have stopped carrying OxyContin in their pharmacies. Customers will have to wait up to three days to get their refills.

10. Many medical groups and Hospitals have pharmacies onsite. Look at the directory to see if you can get your refills done there instead.

11. Mail order pharmacies are another option. Walmart and Express Scripts have programs.

12. Do not utilize a pharmacy that is next to a highway or freeway. I have seen on the news that restaurant robberies happen most often at locations near the ramps to a highway, so use the same theory for pharmacy robberies.

Just today I took my two children to our local Rite Aid store to pick up two prescriptions and get a few items. It was about 9:15 on a Sunday morning, but the pharmacy was not opening until 10 am so I said we would not wait. After getting the Sunday newspaper at the front of the store from the clerk I made by way to go through the store where my children were already milling about in the toy section.

A male asked the clerk for the key to the restroom. She informed him that he could not get it until the pharmacy opened at 10 am, which caused this male to overreact and start screaming. The store manager was at the store on his day off and went to the entrance/exit section to stop this person from fighting. There were now two men fighting and no security in the store at this time of day. Luckily they took their issue to Mc Donald's next store and we were once again safe in the store. The clerk was visibily shaken up and said she would have grabbed a liquor bottle behind her to smash over a head if things got heated. I said to her maybe that was a foiled pharmacy robbery since the pharmacy is next to the restrooms.

If at all possible keep children home when running errands that include a visit to a pharmacy, or have them stay in the car with another adult. Be aware at all times of what is taking place in the store so you can exit quickly.


Pharmacy Checker

AARP Pharmacy Services

Prescription Drug Rehab


Controlled Substances Act of Massachusetts