By HANA KIM
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The robbery of Walgreens pharmacy on N. Broadway this week broke what seemed like a dry spell for that crime in Knoxville.
In the spring, it seemed 6 News was reporting a pharmacy robbery nearly every day. Suspects filmed on surveillance video were demanding prescription painkillers to feed their own addictions or to sell on the street.
Business owners, law makers and police have been trying a variety of avenues to fight back.
Frequent Walgreens customer Stefanie Pilkay says any time she hears about pharmacy robberies, her ears perk up.
"I can't even imagine if my kids were here and someone came in here to get a hold of pain medication," she said.
The prescription pill epidemic is fueling pharmacy robberies in our area and everywhere else.
"Last year, pharmacy robberies were up 18,000 in the entire country," said Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
So law enforcement and the pharmacies amped up their games. Walgreens says one reason for the drastic decrease in their pharmacy robberies is the time delay safe.
From September 2010 to March 2011, before the time delay safes, there were 17 Walgreens pharmacy robberies.
Since March, there have only been two robberies and one attempted robbery.
"I think that it's a great idea. I hope they are doing it for all of them, honestly," said Pilkay.
All Walgreens branches have the safes and the company says they hope to share them with other pharmacy retailers.
Police say anything to add extra security and combat the pill problem is encouraged. "Crimes involving pills are really what's driving crime rates now it has become such an epidemic every law enforcement officer in the country is dealing with it," DeBusk said.
There were 26 pharmacy robberies last year in Knoxville. So far this year, there have been seven.
Several months ago, Knoxville police and the Knox County Sheriff's Office busted a group they say were hitting up a string of CVS pharmacies. Police say the group's arrest is one reason for the decline in pharmacy robberies this year.
