CVS Installs Time Delay Safes In All Oklahoma Stores To Prevent Robberies

CVS is going high-tech to try and prevent pharmacy robberies.

The drug store said it has installed time delay safes in all 79 of its Oklahoma pharmacies to make it harder for thieves to steal opioids like fentanyl, oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Here is how it works.

It’s no secret a robber wants to get in, get their pills and then get out as fast as they can.

Controlled substance narcotics, like opioids, are stored in the safe and can only be taken out of the safe when a prescription is filled.

Pharmacy employees put in a code and at some point the safe opens. It could take 15 minutes, it could take 10 minutes, it varies. The safe decides the time and no one can override the delay.

The longer it takes, the longer a would-be robber has to stay in the store and on the crime scene and the more likely they are to get caught. So the bet is robbers will not be willing to stick around to steal the drugs.

All stores have signs warning thieves the pharmacy uses delay safes.

CVS installed the technology five years ago in Indianapolis where pharmacy robberies were on the rise. The company says it saw a 70 percent decline the robberies in Indianapolis stores with the time-delayed safes.

Now, stores in about 15 states have the technology.

The company says safes should not impact customers, other than making CVS stores safer.