Teenagers storm New York pharmacies and take out prescription drugs

Gangs of marauding teenagers have stormed six NYC pharmacies over the past month and escaped with prescription drugs. New York Post. Police sources say all of these robberies may be connected.

The teens have raided five Duane Reade pharmacies in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn since February 28. They jumped on counters, stealing codeine and other prescription drugs, according to law enforcement sources.

The booty included oxycodone and promethazine, an antihistamine that contains codeine, the sources said.

“They know what they want, they get in and out quickly,” said one Manhattan cop. Probably teenagers are selling them for quick money.”

On the subject: Two robbers pounce on passers-by in Brooklyn and take everything from them: 8 people have already suffered

In the latest robberies, thieves hit two Duane Reade pharmacies on Wednesday, just 12 minutes (3 km) apart, according to law enforcement sources.

During the latest robbery, on March 23, two or three teenagers rushed to Duane Reade's drugstore at 2069 Broadway. Pretending they had a gun, they demanded, "Where's the oxycodone?", the sources said.

Then the thieves escaped by car.

Around 5 p.m. that same day, four teenagers robbed another Duane Reade store at 1231 Madison Avenue.

A similar robbery occurred on March 22 at Cala Pharmacy at 9311 Church Ave. in Brownsville around 17:00 pm.

In previous robberies, the teenagers hit Duane Reade pharmacies on West 4th Street on March 16, West 20th Street on March 7, and North End Avenue on February 28.

New York City Police now they are trying to determine if there are other similar robberies and if the same gang of teenagers is behind them.

Duane Reade was one of the hardest hit retailers during the spate of attacks in five boroughs.

Authorities said the stolen drugs were part of a thriving black market in the city.