Man Threatens Pharmacist with Machetes in Pharmacy Robbery for OxyContin
Robberies of local pharmacies are increasing as prescription drug addictions continue to increase. And, while a number of individuals secure the pills they seek without producing a weapon, one man decided that a machete would get him what he wanted.
This man yielded not one, but two machetes while robbing a Bridgeport CVS store, threatening the pharmacist if he didn’t get what he demanded, according to a WTNH report. No injuries were reported in the incident, yet the assault had a more violent feel to it compared with other pharmacy robberies.
According to reports, the man approached the pharmacy counter and then pulled out the machetes. He threatened the pharmacist, demanding OxyContin or risk getting ‘sliced up’. He then clinked the two knives together as he waited for the pills. Once he had the goods in hand, he calmly left the pharmacy on foot.
As the prescription drug addiction epidemic continues to grow in the United States, pharmacies are increasingly targets of robberies and violence. Individuals who would never have broken the law in the past are getting desperate to feed an addiction that started as a simple prescription to treat legitimate pain.
With the heightened threats against pharmacies, many are implementing security systems and lock boxes to try and keep desired pills out of the hands of addicts. If given the choice or surrendering the pills or incurring violence, pharmacists are instructed to comply with demands.