Pharmacy takes drastic security measures after recent robbery

Pharmacist Marilyn Adamo was getting ready to give a flu shot to her last customerof the nightwhen something very traumatic happened.

Her assistant and the inoculation patient were the only two other people in the store that October eveningwhen it was robbed.

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"She saw them coming in, and luckily at my desk right where Iwas sitting I had a panic button," said Marilyn."I wasn't afraid when it happened. It was more after where I felt like 'oh my God look what happened?' It was scary. We feel a lot safer now."

He pushed me to make me move, I think because I was in shock and I wasn't moving.- Marilyn Adamo, Pharmacist and co-owner of Lifestyle Pharmacy

Two men with their faces concealed enteredthe Lifestyle Pharmacythat Marilyn co-owns with her husband Peteron Dougall Avenue.

One of the robbers forced her to the pharmaceuticals.

"He pushed me to make me move, I think because I was in shock and I wasn't moving," said Marilyn.

Hear more about the pharmacy robbery here.

The night of the robbery

7 years ago

Duration 0:51

Pharmacist Marilyn Adamo describes the night her pharmacy was robbed by two men.

Theydemanded prescription drugs from Marilyn and her assistant, and took off in a stolen car.

The next day, the Adamos closedthe shop'sfront entranceandlet customersinto the pharmacy only by manually unlocking the door until a security camera was installed outside. To this daythe door remains locked, but nowthey buzzcustomers into their business with a remote switch. They also put a protective film on the windows to prevent them from being smashed.

Regional safety strategy

The Adamos'pharmacy isn't the only one in the region that hasadded newsecurity measures.Windsor Police met with the community's pharmacy owners andemployees back in Aprilto see what could be done about the steady paceof robberies in Windsor and Essex County.

These crimes are unique.-BarryHorrobin,Director of Planning andPhysical Resources for Windsor Police Service

"These crimes are unique," saidBarry Horrobin,Director of Planning andPhysical Resources for Windsor Police Service. He's been leading aninitiative in the regionlooking at detailed wayspharmacies can protect themselves.

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In September and October, Horrobin explained that Windsor police sent out questionnaires to the 147 pharmacies located in Windsor and Essex County 100 of which are in the city to learn more about what those businesses might need and how the police could help.

Officers have also been visiting the sites to offer practical advice and education.

"We're looking at things like, 'is your pharmacy counter completely closed so that employees are safely positioned,'" said Horrobin, adding that his team is still tabulating the survey data and developingmore concrete measuresscheduled to roll out in January.

"Many [pharmacies] are implementing changes right off the bat," said Horrobin. "They've been gradually, and in some cases very quickly, becoming a lot more aware and a lot more keen on what to look for and to be alert to signs of behavior before it elevates to a problem where it's very, very risky."

Audit, advice

This weekan officer visited the Adamos'pharmacy as part of the police initiative. Peter explained that the couple had recently installed even better surveillance cameras at their businessbecause there also havebeen burglariesduring hours when the store was closed. Peter saidhe found the officer's advice helpful.

"He did an audit and there are some things we're going to consider, possibly a timed safe," said Peter. "But other pharmacies would have to jump on board with that because patients don't want to sit around to wait."

Wider implications

Horrobin'spolice outreach initiative willcompletein January.

"I'm excited to see hopefully how the results will come out and we can share this with other jurisdictions too," he said. "Because pharmacies are located in all communities throughout Ontario, and Canada for that matter, and they have similar problems that we have here in Windsor and Essex County."