Tulsa Police: Pharmacy Robberies Are A Disturbing Trend

By Craig Day, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Green Country pharmacies are being warned that crooks are after their drugs and the problem is only getting worse. The latest, two in Tulsa and one in Broken Arrow, were targeted Friday morning. 

If it seems like there have been a lot of pharmacy robberies lately, you're right.

"It is a trend that is a little disturbing," said Sgt. Dave Walker, Tulsa Police.

Robbery Detective Dave Walker says each year Tulsa sees a certain robbery trend. Last year: banks. So far this year: pharmacies.

Friday morning, four men in hooded sweatshirts, two of them with guns, stormed into the Barnes Drug Store, located in the 9700 block of East 31st Street. They got away with an employee's car, cash and drugs.

Also Friday morning, a man tried to rob the Drug Warehouse at 31st and Harvard, passing a note that read "Drugs." He didn't get any, but a little while later police say the same guy was successful during a robbery at a Broken Arrow Walgreen's at Houston and Elm. He left in a white Taurus.

5/7/2010  Related Story: Robbers Hit Three Tulsa Drug Stores 

No one was hurt in the robberies, but Walker fears that won't always be the case.

"They don't have any qualms about firing a round off and somebody gets hurt, somebody gets shot, somebody gets killed. We're just one trigger pull away from a homicide," said Sgt. Walker.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics is very concerned about the spike in pharmacy robberies statewide. The group recently held a workshop in Oklahoma City for pharmacists and officers to learn more about the growing trend.

"As more people get addicted, more people will want those types of substances. I believe it's something we've got to keep our eye on very closely because I think the potential for these types of activities will increase," said Darrell Weaver, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Director.

In Tulsa, the good news is most cases are solved.

"Pharmacy robberies, if you look at it, we arrest probably 90 to 95 percent of those," said Sgt. Walker.

Walker and other investigators are hopeful these latest cases will be solved too.

Anyone with information on the cases should call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.