Task Force Tackles Alberta’s Increase in Pharmacy Robberies | The Canadian News

Pharmacy robberies have become more common in Alberta over the past year.

In response to the growing trend in crime, a provincial task force was created to tackle the problem.

“This is an issue we must take seriously and it is a community concern,” said Greg Eberhart, Registrar for the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP).

“We are not only seeing physical violence, but in every case that occurs, the trauma has a huge emotional effect on the people involved.

“We just have to step up a few measures before someone gets hurt.”

The group is made up of Edmonton and Calgary police officers, the RCMP, the ACP and the Alberta Pharmacists Association.

“We look at trends, what is happening, not only (in) Alberta, but also in other provinces,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Hilton with EPS theft section.

“Recent drug store robberies have taken hold.”

“The suspects will go behind the counter, demand that the pharmacist open the safe and then load the drugs into a bag and then leave.”

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The EPS said that in 2019 there were eight robberies from pharmacies. In 2020 a trend emerged when the number of robberies rose to 18.

So far this year, EPS said there have been 39 robberies from pharmacies.

“There is a high risk for pharmacists and witnesses and, when it comes to weapons, we have a variety of weapons such as knives or pistols,” explained Hilton.

“The other thing we notice is that our criminals tend to be more mobile. Some of our criminals in Edmonton will end up in Calgary and vice versa; We’ve seen them show up at Sherwood Park, Stony Plain. “

The group has come together to support pharmacies and give safety recommendations.

Those include:

• Delayed safes for storing narcotics
• Provide panic alarms to pharmacy staff
• Improved security cameras in pharmacies to deter offenders and assist the police
• Installing physical security measures such as remote locking doors
• Limit the amount of cash and medications on the site.

“Every time we have a community issue, the opportunity to partner and … address an issue from multiple approaches is the only way to do it,” Eberhart said.

“We haven’t seen something like this here in over a decade, so we’re looking at it again.”

The ACP is consulting on new standards that could be implemented sometime in 2022.