Aside from a broken window, Pharm A Save Monroe remained unscathed after an attempted burglary early Wednesday morning.
Two other Snohomish County pharmacies hit the very next day weren't as fortunate.
Sonitrol, Pharm A Save's security company, was alerted to the attempted break-in at around 2:20 a.m. March 23 by the sound of the perpetrators breaking a window in an attempt to gain entry into the pharmacy. The dual-paned window shattered but held its form, and the would-be thieves were unable to gain access into the building. Monroe Police officers were dispatched, but by the time they arrived at the scene, the suspects had fled.
Officer Jason Southard and K9 Nuke were deployed as a precaution, but were unable to locate anyone in the area.
Security footage caught two masked males carrying what looked to be backpacks and a suspected getaway vehicle waiting in the middle of 147th Street in Monroe. It is believed the two suspects fled in the vehicle when they were unable to access the building, said Monroe Police Department Communications Director Debbie Willis.
Pharm A Save co-owner and pharmacy technician Bridgett Edgar is just glad it happened when nobody was there.
"Luckily it happened when we were closed, and there wasn't worse damage,GÇ¥ Edgar said.
Edgar was ready to move on and put the incident behind her, but on Thursday, March 24, police in both Everett and Marysville reported early-morning pharmacy burglaries. According to Marysville Police Department social media, officers apprehended one suspect, while another fled in a late-model Cadillac. Willis said Monroe investigators are working with officers in Marysville and Everett to determine if the incidents are connected.
The rampant abuse of prescription medications has reached epidemic levels, Edgar said.
"I hope this doesn't get worse before it gets better,GÇ¥ Edgar said. "But I'm afraid it might.GÇ¥
Out of necessity, Pharm A Save technicians have received extensive education on what to look for when it comes to identifying a situation of potential prescription drugs abuse, Edgar said. Patient familiarity is a huge asset to staff at Pharm A Save, she said, adding that being a smaller community pharmacy means there is a more intimate level of patient care and ready knowledge of prescribing physicians.
"We're pretty lucky here at Pharm A Save. We know our customers,GÇ¥ Edgar said. "If there's something out of the ordinary, for the most part, we're pretty alert. We know when someone new walks in.GÇ¥
It is unclear what the thieves were after, she said. Even if they had gained entry, they would not have been able to access opioid painkillers, which are highly secured, she said.
Monroe police officers thoroughly processed the scene, even collecting a Milky Way wrapper found outside the broken window and placing it into evidence. Edgar credited Sonitrol and Monroe Police for their quick response.
"I was very happy with the Monroe Police Department,GÇ¥ Edgar said. "It was our security and the Monroe PD ' they were here and they were on it.GÇ¥
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment