Rash Of Pharmacy Robberies In Westmoreland Co. Investigated
GREENSBURG (KDKA) -- State police are investigating a rash of pharmacy robberies in Westmoreland County.
There have been seven in the last year, and five in the last three months. The robbers are after one thing, oxycodone.
The most recent robbery happened around 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Walgreens on Route 30 in Hempfield Township.
The robber walked in and grabbed a cart before heading to the pharmacy. He went to the consultation area where there are no cameras and claimed to have a gun, then passes a note demanding oxycodone.
He got away with a large amount of these pills that have a high street value.
The first robbery happened in March at the CVS in Latrobe. In that robbery, the suspect actually showed a gun.
In June, Hayden's Pharmacy in Youngwood was hit.
The Rite Aid in Mount Pleasant was robbed in both October and November.
In December, the Rite Aid in Greensburg was hit twice.
At this point, state police aren't sure if the suspects are connected or copycats. They say the method of operation is similar in all of the robberies. They are concerned these robberies will continue until the person or persons behind them are caught.
They are urging anyone who recognizes the people in the surveillance video to call the State Police Barracks in Greensburg.
In the meantime, they are asking shoppers in local pharmacies to be aware of the people around them and be good witnesses if they happen to be in the pharmacy when a robbery takes place.
State police are also working with local pharmacies to come up with ways to stop this apparent string of robberies.
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