Robberies of Vans Delivering Drugs to Pharmacies and Hospitals On the Rise

Robberies of vans or couriers that deliver drugs, primarily controlled substances, to hospitals and pharmacies are occurring more frequently, and tend to involve violence. Drivers of these delivery vans are usually alone, unarmed, and untrained on security measures, Drug Topics indicates. Further, Drug Topics notes that the Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition reported at least 87 cases of theft from vehicles delivering drugs to pharmacies and hospitals in 2015.

NABP convened a task force to examine strategies for preventing and reacting to pharmacy robberies and thefts in October 2014. The recommendations of the task force are available in a report on the NABP website.