From Deseret News archives:
Pharmacies fight back
OxyContin robberies force stores to change procedures
In an attempt to curb the thefts, Walgreens has pulled OxyContin, a potent prescription pain pill, off the shelves in many Utah County pharmacies. Signs have been posted in some stores alerting customers to the decision.
"Our situation with OxyContin locally is we have removed it from some of our stores," said Carol Hively, corporate spokeswoman for Walgreens. "We don't say which stores have it on the shelves at which moment and which don't. We don't get into the details."
In addition to signs, some stores in Utah County now have security guards who watch the pharmacy, Hively said.
But the precaution didn't stop one man who tried to rob the Lehi Walgreens, 102 N. 1200 East, at gunpoint about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Police dispatchers said the man walked into the store, declared he had a gun and demanded the drug. However, when the pharmacists said they didn't have any, the man, who was wearing a red hoody sweatshirt, left on foot but was last seen traveling in a "sporty" car.
"In other parts of the country, other states where we've taken this step, (we) found it to be effective," Hively said.
Police say one Utah County man is responsible for multiple recent pharmacy robberies.
Danny Hooley, 32, American Fork, is accused in police reports of entering pharmacies, telling employees he had a gun and demanding OxyContin.
Hooley was arrested Dec. 23 the day police say he tried to rob two stores in one night. In all, he's accused of robbing five pharmacies from Lehi to Orem.
During later interviews in the Utah County Jail, police say Hooley confessed to robbing a Lehi pharmacy on Oct. 30. Police say he was also involved in robberies of Smith's Food and Drug Store pharmacies in American Fork on Nov. 13 and Nov. 29.
He told the officers he never had a weapon and only wanted the drugs "because of addiction," according to the police report.
But even pretending to have a gun has serious repercussions, said American Fork Police Chief Lance Call.
"If he says he does (have a gun) we take him at his word," Call said. "He can't get off if it wasn't the real (thing)."
Hooley faces three counts of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; one charge of possession or use of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony; and one count of third-degree felony theft.
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com
Comments
- Sports on the air 12:18 a.m.
- Sports briefs 12:17 a.m.
- Editorial: Red flags at Fort Hood 12:14 a.m.
- Rid Capitol Hill of 'roaches' 12:14 a.m.
- Health proposal not 'reform' 12:14 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:14 a.m.
- Letters: Jazz's time will come 12:13 a.m.
- Letters: Big picture in Highland 12:13 a.m.
- Letters: No Nativity in D.C. 12:13 a.m.
- Letters: Equal opportunity backfires 12:13 a.m.
- BYU happy to escape with victory
230 - TCU creams U.
225 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
206 - Will state consider gay rights law?
149 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
131 - RSL heads to MLS title game
125 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - TCU stays 4th in AP; Y. 19th, U. 23rd
97 - 3A: Hurricane advances to title game
88
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Pipe down! He's had three straight 10 win season and is on track for his 4th....
I find it interesting that this article doesn't mention any of the several...
"We have to coach better, play better and compete better," Whittingham said....
I think that Pratt case shows that the answer to the question posed is a big NO.
Utah 21 BYU 22 but, before Utah fans get too excited, consider BYU and...
I read that Hall was going to leave it all on the field the rest of the...
For all you Bronco bashers -- have you forgotten about Crowton? Things could...
Peace and tolerance are worthy efforts. My sister and I were very impressed...
The correct realist outlook shows Utah slipping back to being mediocre at...
So the presidents would never do it. But I totally agree.


You can be the first to comment on this story.