Senator Schumer Calls for Measures to Address Rise in Dangerous Pharmacy Robberies

US Senator Charles E. Schumer has called for a three-pronged approach to protecting pharmacies from robberies, a growing problem linked to the rise in abuse of prescription pain medications. Schumer’s plan calls for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) “to provide guidelines and best practices to help local pharmacies establish better security measures for the protection of prescription narcotics and to share data collected on pharmaceutical and prescription drug theft with local law enforcement.” Schumer also supports a bill that would increase penalties for individuals convicted of pharmacy robberies and other crimes related to prescription drug abuse. Schumer stated in a press release that “Prescription drug-related crimes are becoming deadlier by the day and we must do everything in our power to stop them. By providing guidance on how to increase security measures at local drug stores, sharing information on crime trends, and increasing penalties for those who would seek to rob a pharmacy, we can help deter would-be criminals from trying in the first place.”