Drug Store Robberies

See this video from Seattle of a drug store robbery gone bad… for the robber.  The Pharmacist might want to take a training course or two though, as I would not approach an armed robber with the gun held one handed.  What if he hadn’t ran off? Not sure chasing after him was a wise move either, but protecting his store with a gun? Good on him.




What I really hate about this is how they say they are putting their customers at risk. Because we all know the ethical thing to do is to submit to armed robbers and give them what they want, and hope they don’t intend to make sure there are no witnesses.

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7 thoughts on “Drug Store Robberies”

  1. Interesting that they make the “putting customers in danger” claim when the situation shown had no customers in the store and staff was obviously quickly behind the pharmacist in the engagement. Would he have engaged the robber if customers had been out front?

    I agree, leaving the store during the chase was risky as they guy was obviously fleeing and not presenting a danger. Perhaps the pharmacist only kept the gun at the ready should things change while he observed the robber’s escape for direction and vehicle info? But you’re on the street in liberal-town with a gun in your hand.

  2. I didn’t think the ‘putting customers in danger’ was about the gun, but rather the poor security cameras in many of the chain pharmacies. I think they treated the armed pharmacist pretty well. Of course there was the obligatory “don’t fight back” comment.

  3. I’d be interested to see the corporate policy on concealed carry by employees at Wallgreens and RiteAid. I’d venture that they’re non-permissive.

  4. The oddest thing is what the news media intends to report about guns and then what is actually shown as the result. They say “He might have hurt other customers,” but the store had no customers in it. The media says “Having that gun is dangerous,” but the result shows it’s only been dangerous for the criminals.

    The funny thing is that the more they report on these stories the more it tends to hurt THEIR case, not ours.

    You gotta love it!

  5. Dave wrote:
    “I’d be interested to see the corporate policy on concealed carry by employees at Wallgreens and RiteAid. I’d venture that they’re non-permissive.”

    I bet you’re right, Dave, and I bet that’s part of the reason why chains (versus privately owned pharmacies) are increasingly being targeted. Better odds of having disarmed, defenseless victims who will fork over the drugs…

  6. I read the “some pharmacies may be exposing customers and employees to unnecessary dangers” comment to indicate primarily the video security systems that weren’t set up to deter robberies, either because they’re too low resolution or because they’re pointed at the wrong places. Money quote: “Because pharmacies aren’t losing money [because Purdue reimburses them to keep them stocking Oxycontin] some are slow to upgrade security, exposing employees and customers to the dangers that accompany every desperate robber who walks through the door.” Nothing about armed pharmacists endangering customers. If anything, they seemed quite positive about Mr. Donohue, and they’ve certainly given anyone looking to rob his place something to think about. Certainly, an armed pharmacist is going to be of more help than a video system, given that one robber we saw–the one in the lab coat, wig and sunglasses–was obviously aware he’d be filmed and took steps to prevent identification. So when I go to Walgreens tomorrow to pick up my psoriasis meds (I live in King County, WA), I will definitely be packing, and on the lookout for guys wearing wigs and shades.

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