Police: Man Steals Cash, Pills From CVS Pharmacy In Farmingville
FARMINGVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Just a few miles away from the Long Island pharmacy massacre in Medford, another pharmacy heist had customers on edge Monday.
Suffolk County police said a man brazenly robbed a Farmingville CVS of drugs and about $200 in cash Sunday. A photo of the suspect was released after detectives combed through surveillance tapes from the pharmacy on Horseblock Road, reports CBS 2's John Metaxas.
"It's concerning that only a week ago four people died," Suffolk Country Police Det. Sgt. James Madden said.
1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports: Farmingville CVS Robbed
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The theft in Farmingville took place less than four miles from Haven Drugs, where Jennifer Mejia, Raymond Ferguson, Jaime Taccetta, and Bryon Sheffield were killed.
"I just wish they'd catch the people doing this because it's pretty scary," Holtsville resident Linda Bunten said.
Customers at the CVS on Monday were grateful that the robbery ended with no one hurt.
"I think they did the right thing," Joe Tomeo, of Medford, said. "They got him out of the store without any kind of incident, thank God."
The robbery happened just after noon on Sunday.
Police said the suspect first entered the store and asked an employee if they had certain prescription drugs. He left the store, and returned later.
"He walked up to the pharmacist and handed a note requesting pain medication, oxycodone, and cash," Madden said.
The suspect never showed a gun, but the pharmacist complied and the suspect fled on foot.
PHOTO GALLERY: Medford Massacre
"He probably did it knowing that's what they would probably do, because, you know, everybody's scared now," Lake Ronkonkoma resident Corinne Morici said.
In a statement, CVS said the safety of its customers is its top priority and it regularly reviews its security procedures.
Police said they know the surveillance photo shows the man who committed the crime. Now, they said, it's just a question of finding him.
Law enforcement agencies said there have been nearly 2,800 drug store robberies nationwide since 2006.
Police said the abuse of painkillers is up 400 percent in the last decade.
David Laffer and his wife Melinda Brady have been arrested in the deadly Father's Day massacre in Medford.
