Armed Robbers Target Pharmacies for Pills

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Finally, pictures of two men wanted since December. Pictures that could lead to arrests, and a sense of peace for long-time Charlotte pharmacist Jesse Pike. He wasn’t at work last month, but his daughter and three employees were, when the men came into his pharmacy with guns.

Pike tells WCCB News @ Ten anchor Morgan Fogarty, “And they were instructed, ‘hands up!’ My daughter was given ties to bind the employees’ hands, everybody was placed on the floor.”

The guys didn’t take cash. They had a list of drugs they wanted: opioids like Oxycontin and drugs like it. This isn’t the first time this pharmacy has been held up at gun point. Each time, Pike says they a little more fearful but also: wiser.

He says, “The anxiety does produce action.”

Pike says besides security cameras and bars on the windows, additional precautions have been taken. Understandably, he didn’t want to go into detail. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say the men have been busy. Just this week they’re accused of hitting the Friendly Pharmacy on Little Rock Road. In February, they hit the CVS on N. Sharon Amity Road and Busters on Old Concord Road. In January, they hit the CVS on Mallard Creek Road and in December, the CVS on North Rryon Street. Six pharmacies total.

Pike isn’t sure exactly how many pills they got from his store but: “I can tell you the cost to me was over $7,000.” Likely, pocket change, compared to how much the thieves got selling the pills on the street. “The opioid epidemic has caused the street value of these drugs to become astronomical,” says Pike.

The robberies happened between 1:30 in the afternoon and 9PM at night. If you have any information that can help police, call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.