First steps to secure drugstores
Pharmacist Don Cantalino in Uniondale is so alarmed by recent shootings at pharmacies that he's decided to get a Nassau pistol permit. "My new theory is that I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by six." He has also upgraded their alarm system and panic buttons at his pharmacy. (Jan. 6, 2012) Credit: Steve Pfost
Violent crime at local pharmacies suddenly seems like an epidemic. Nationally, armed robberies of pharmacies are up 79 percent over five years.
A quadruple murder came on Father's Day in Medford and a federal law enforcement officer was killed in Seaford recently. Both occurred during robberies at independent drugstores, and both have been tied to painkiller addiction.
In response, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced initiatives that, while they can't hurt, don't do enough to address the problem. But Bellone says they are only the first phase of the fight.
The county will partner with drug company Purdue Pharma Lp to increase Crime Stoppers rewards from $1,500 to $5,000 for tips on serious offenses related to pharmacies. Suffolk will also raise awareness of Operation Medicine Cabinet, a program for disposing of unwanted prescription drugs safely, and train pharmacy workers and police officers to detect doctor-shopping and fraudulent prescriptions. Pharmacies are also being taught to make their businesses safer. Such plans may help, eventually, by cutting down on new addicts and identifying scammers.
But to get more secure now, pharmacies are acquiring panic buttons, guns and security cameras. If those actions are accompanied by a major uptick in patrols of drugstores by Suffolk police, robbers might think twice. Ending the problems posed by painkiller addiction will take more, but stopping the murders and robberies would be a great start.
