Abstract
Objective: To report the incidence of pharmacy-related burglaries and robberies and characteristics of pharmacies where such crimes have occurred using recent data from Rx Pattern Analysis Tracking Robberies & Other Losses (RxPATROL), a national Web-based information clearinghouse on pharmacy-related theft of prescription medications and over-the-counter products. Design: Descriptive, nonexperimental study. Setting: United States between 2005 and 2006. Participants: Not applicable. Interventions: Not applicable. Main outcome measures: Number of pharmacy theft reports received; incident type, date, and location; point of entry; and pharmacy security features. Results: Between 2005 and 2006, 202 pharmacy burglary and 299 pharmacy robbery reports from 45 different states were filed with RxPATROL. More than 70% of pharmacies reporting such crimes lacked a security camera. Among those reporting a burglary, 60% lacked dead bolt locks, a solid exterior door, a motion detector device, or a safe or vault for storage of controlled substances. Burglars most often obtained access to the pharmacy via the front door. Conclusion: RxPATROL is a Web-based tool that can assist pharmacies and law enforcement in collaborating more effectively to combat and prevent pharmacy-related crimes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 599-603 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Pharmacists Association |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Controlled substances
- Drug diversion
- Opioid analgesics
- Pharmacy security
- Theft