In the southern suburbs of Adelaide, a crime spree in the early hours has left two pharmacies damaged and their owners distressed. The incidents occurred in Brighton and Darlington, where two individuals broke in and made off with controlled medications, including cough syrup and opioids.
The first robbery unfolded in Brighton, where the thieves smashed a brick through the back door to access the pharmacy, specifically targeting a safe filled with opioid drugs. CCTV footage captured the suspects entering the premises around 4am after damaging a roller door and forcing a window open.
Just forty minutes later, the second pharmacy in Darlington suffered a similar fate. Again, CCTV footage showed the intruders employing aggressive methods to gain entry and subsequently stealing cough syrup, which is notorious for its potential illicit use in drug manufacturing.
The owner of the Darlington pharmacy, Ajit Das, expressed his devastation over the event, citing it as a frustrating example of routine crime that is becoming increasingly common. In light of these break-ins, Das is determined to bolster security at his establishment, planning to upgrade with more robust roller doors and additional surveillance cameras.
Customers at the pharmacies have echoed sentiments of disappointment and concern. One customer, Stephen Hornsey, voiced a harsh judgement on the criminals, stating they are “not fit for society,” while another, Kiki Penley, lamented the unfortunate nature of such crimes.
Following the break-ins, local police deployed K-9 units to track down the suspects. However, their efforts did not yield any results. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, it was noted that the Brighton pharmacy had also been targeted by robbers six months earlier, with the latest incident causing an estimated $10,000 worth of damage.
Despite the disturbances, both pharmacies resumed normal operations shortly after the incidents.