Alberta pharmacy robberies on the rise during pandemic

Yaman Dakhel worked his first shifton Thursday at the Edmonton pharmacy where he was robbed at gunpoint by a masked man a week earlier.

It was the second daytime robbery at the drugstorein two weeks. The suspects are still at large.

"I am thinking what's going to happen today," Dakhel told CBC News in between serving customers. "If a customer or someone comes in with a mask is this just a regular customer or is this someone who is going to rob me?"

A week earlier, a gunman walked up to the counter and pointed his gun at Dakhel. He handed the pharmacist a written note demanding two narcotics, including thecodeine-based cough syrup Cotridin, but soon lost patience.

"He climbed over the counter and opened the safe and got what he wanted and then he asked me to open the cash till," Dakhel recalled. "He took all the bills and then he left."

The crime is one of 14 pharmacy robberies so far in Edmonton this year up from eightlast year.

• Pharmacist robbed at gunpoint wants to start support group for his peers

This week, Calgary police issued a warning after thieves many brandishing weapons while a second suspect guarded the doorrobbed 21 pharmacies in three months. Prior to September,there was one drugstore robbery this year.

Pharmacist Mo Samara saidhe thinks COVID-19 is cutting off the illicit drug supply.

"Because of that people are desperate and people are trying to attain it through any means," said Samara,a pharmacist focused on addictions and substance-use who owns four pharmacies in Edmonton.

WATCH | Phamarcists concerned about rise in robberies

Pharmacy robberies climb in Alberta

4 years ago

Duration 1:55

Alberta pharmacists say the pandemic is putting them at greater risk as pharmacy robberies rise in the province

He said mandatory masking meant to keep people safe has anunintentional side effect that increases the risk for stores.

"It's easier for people who want to commit crime to come in wearing a mask and not arouse suspicion," Samara said in an interview Thursday with CBC.

Calgary police say they don't know yet if they are dealing with a general crime trend or it's the work of specific people or groups.

"Thankfully, no pharmacy employees have been physically injured, but without a doubt these incidents have had a lasting impact on many of them," police saidin a news release on Tuesday.

"Pharmacy employees are advised to take precautions while investigators search for suspects."

About 10 per cent of Samara'sbudget at his four pharmacies is now dedicated to security.

"It's almost like a bank now,to set up a pharmacy," said Samara who was robbed at gunpoint in 2015 and 2016.

"You know the number one protector of the public is the police so we hope that they receive the resources they need to keep us safe."

He praised the Alberta government forproviding resources to tackle addictions.

• Alberta government tackles addiction with 400 treatment beds at five new 'recovery communities'

Samara also blames the rise in robberies on agreater demand for Cotridin after stricter rules to prevent a surge in forgedprescriptions was implemented in July.

In a statement, the Alberta Pharmacists' Association said it is working on prevention with Edmonton police and providing counselling services to members.