Pharmacist Patrick Patel says he is still shaken after his pharmacy was robbed and an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) stolen early Tuesday morning.
“It was terrible to walk into,” Patel said. “This has caused fear in my staff. They are all shaken up. My wife is emotionally stressed, and we have a one-month-old baby.”
But the owner of St. Andrews Pharmasave on St. Andrews St. in Cambridge, says he is thankful that no one was harmed in the incident after several suspects smashed windows, tearing out the ATM just before 6:30 a.m.
According to Waterloo regional police, the suspects, in a white Ford pickup, forced entry into the business and stole an ATM. They then fled the area in the pickup with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police confirmed they later recovered an ATM in the area of Alps Road and Spragues Road.
The investigation is still ongoing, and Patel says there needs to be more awareness and supports in place for pharmacy owners after his own pharmacy was targeted.
“This needs to be brought to people’s attention. People need to be made aware. The Mayor and the City of Cambridge should bring awareness to the issue. On the police side, what can be done?” Patel said.
“This needs to be addressed, and we need solutions. We work hard to try and make society better, to help each other. And then, something like this happens.”
This isn’t the first robbery Patel has experienced. He said his family owns another pharmacy in Cambridge that has been targeted twice.
“My other pharmacy was robbed. And here we are again,” Patel said.
“Staff were so shaken. They left their jobs. So, now I’m left without staff. It’s so scary for them, and I don’t blame them.”
Patel would like to see more police patrols in the area.
“When this happened before, no one came to follow-up after the incident. In such a stressful event. I would have liked to see that from police,” Patel said.
WRPS chief, Mark Crowell, says these types of crimes are of concern.
“I think what’s driving this is, is that for several years now, we’ve seen these as acts of desperation, whether it’s a quick fix for narcotics or drugs, or a quick fix for money,” Crowell said.
In Waterloo Region, there have been 21 pharmacy robberies in 2022 as compared to 11, last year.
“This is not unique to Waterloo Region. We see trends across the greater Toronto area and across southern Ontario. We are looking at all avenues related to organized crime and gang activity that could also be related,” Crowell said.
“These are crimes of opportunity and crimes of desperation. People are doing this for their own use or for drug trafficking purposes.”
Crowell said that the Ontario College of Pharmacists is looking at pharmacy robberies through a broader lens to identify what solutions can be put in place in terms of crime prevention measures.
Recognizing the alarming rise in reports of pharmacy robberies across the province, the Ontario College of Pharmacists’ Board of Directors unanimously approved the development of a province-wide standard that will require the use of time-delayed safes, and prominent signage highlighting their use, in all community pharmacies.
The standard will be brought to the board in March, and if approved, will come into effect immediately.
Pharmacist and assistant professor at the University of Waterloo's School of Pharmacy, Wasem Alsabbagh, said that the use of time-delayed safes has proven to be an effective robbery deterrent in other jurisdictions such as British Columbia and Alberta. Saskatchewan is also set to move forward with a similar requirement.
"Time-delay safes have been in use in B.C. since 2015," Alsabbagh said.
“The number of pharmacy robberies decreased by 94 per cent. In Alberta, where the measure was implemented in July, early results in Calgary show a reduction of almost 70 per cent."
According to Alsabbagh, perpetrators are usually after controlled drugs such as pain killers, opioids and medications used for ADHD including amphetamines.
“With the time delayed safe, it takes time, anywhere from 10 minutes until the safe will open. For perpetrators, this makes all the difference,” Alsabbagh said.
“The evidence is clear that this type of initiative works. Perpetrators want to be in and out in no time, so if they have to wait, they will probably just call the whole thing off.”
The measure of implementing time-delay safes is also being supported by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, local police departments, and the Ontario Pharmacists Association.
According to the Ontario College of Pharmacists, pharmacy robberies can have a serious impact on the physical and mental well-being of pharmacy staff and patients, leading to reduced access to pharmacy care.
Additionally, it is believed that prescription medications obtained through pharmacy robberies contribute to the illicit opioid drug supply in Ontario communities.
“The prevention of often violent robberies in Ontario pharmacies, and the effect of such crime on those who work in pharmacies and the patients who need safe access, is a concern across the pharmacy sector,” said Shenda Tanchak, registrar and CEO at the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
“We are working with our crime prevention and pharmacy partners, including the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA), to identify how we can best ensure a safer environment for all. This includes consideration of the value of time-delayed safes given their demonstrated effectiveness in reducing crime in other provinces.”
Patel says something needs to be done, now.
“I was happy that the other part of my pharmacy was not broken. Right now, we are still open and operating. So, I’m thankful that I can still help my customers,” hel said.
“But three windows are broken. I keep calling the insurance company to try and get this sorted. I have 12 glass windows. I can’t cage them all. That would not look good, plus it’s an extra cost for me. The machine belongs to RBC. Insurance should pay, but this will be a long process.”
Patel says the incident has caused unexpected financial strain.
“I have been busy giving COVID-19 boosters, and flu shots. I do always want to try and help the community where I can. I just wish I had more support,” Patel said.
“We do need to come up with something.”
Anyone who witnessed this incident or has any information is asked to call WRPS at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
