Passaic County mayors urge precautions after string of pharmacy robberies

Liam Quinn, NorthJersey.com
·2 min read
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After a string of pharmacy robberies in Paterson and another in Passaic, Mayor Hector Lora is urging city pharmacies to take steps to prevent more from happening.

Lora told The Record and NorthJersey.com Friday that DAS Pharmacy in Passaic was robbed Thursday evening. A masked gunman fired a shot into the ceiling and demanded Xanax, Percocet and cash before running.

The style of robbery was similar to recent pharmacy robberies in Paterson, in which a gunman fired a shot into the ceiling and stole similar drugs, according to an ABC 7 New York report. Lora believes they are connected to the Passaic robbery and that more could follow.

"Pharmacists need to be aware," Lora said. "Because I think these incidents are only going to increase."

Because so many prescriptions are called in, Lora believes it has become easier to steal drugs like oxycodone when they are sitting in baskets waiting to be picked up. Lora said he plans on sending a letter alerting pharmacy owners to take the following precautions to potentially deter criminals:

  • Buzz locks to enter pharmacy or pharmacy areas of business

  • No mask requirements and have all customers remove masks, face coverings and hoods before buzzing them in

  • Have working security cameras

  • Emergency buzz alarms, akin to ones found in jewelry stores

  • Lockboxes or safes for most desired opioid drugs

  • While closed, have metal gates, secured doors and rooftop entrances

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Lora is also planning on holding a meeting with Passaic Deputy Police Chief Louis Gentile and pharmacy owners to discuss the potential threat.

Because of the close proximity, Lora reached out to Clifton Mayor Ray Grabowski, who said he planned on sending out a similar letter.

Grabowski, after speaking to Clifton Police Chief Tom Rinaldi, said there have been previous pharmacy robberies in the city, albeit without the use of guns like in Paterson and Passaic.

The pharmacies most at-risk, both mayors said, are ones near highways like Route 3 and Route 21. DAS Pharmacy is located just blocks away from Route 3.

"Hopefully it doesn't happen," Grabowski said. "But we're on top of it."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic County NJ: String of pharmacy robberies causes alert