Gunman robs Plainview pharmacy of pills

A masked gunman robbed a Plainview pharmacy of 10 to 15 bottles of oxycodone pills Friday, police said, in the latest of several recent Long Island robberies targeting prescription drugs.

The robber, a man wearing a bandanna over his face and brandishing a handgun, jumped over the counter at the Island Care Pharmacy, 1163 Old Country Rd., about 5 p.m., Nassau police said, and threw medication containers around until he settled on the jars of oxycodone containing a total of more than 1,000 pills.

Oxycodone is an opioid prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Det. Sgt. Michael Cole said two employees were in the store at the time and escaped through a back door during the robbery. No injuries were reported, police said.

The gunman fled the building in an unknown direction, police said.

Eighth Squad detectives asked that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.

On June 19, four people were shot and killed during a robbery of controlled drugs at Haven Drugs in Medford. A man was later arrested and charged with multiple murders in that case, and his wife was arrested on related charges.

On Monday, a man with a scarf over his face entered a CVS pharmacy on Main Street in Sayville, jumped over a counter and shot at an employee's foot with an air pistol before fleeing with 150 OxyContin pills, a brand of oxycodone.

No information was available Friday night from police about whether they believe the Plainview robbery is related to any of the others.