NEW YORK, NY – Authorities are intensifying their search for a group responsible for a series of burglaries targeting small, independently-owned drugstores across the city. The spree has affected 11 stores in Queens and Long Island, leaving local business owners on edge.
Stephen Centineo, who owns a smoothie shop, considers himself fortunate as the wave of burglaries creeps closer to his store. He notes that a nearby pharmacy was recently hit, raising concerns for his own business.
The most recent incident occurred at Randall Manor Pharmacy on February 19. According to the NYPD, three suspects broke into the store at approximately 4:30 a.m., disabling security cameras and forcing their way through a gate and door. They escaped with $10,500 worth of pharmaceuticals in a light-colored sedan, highlighting the calculated nature of these thefts.
Former NYPD detective Michael Alcazar suggests that these criminals might be targeting high-demand medications, such as weight-loss drugs, which have a lucrative market on social media platforms.
This burglary is part of a larger operation that has plagued local stores since December 6. The trio’s first known heist involved breaking into a drugstore on Main Street in Flushing, where they stole $200 in lottery tickets. Their audacity continued as they hit another store within an hour and two more the following week.
On December 15, surveillance footage captured the group attempting another break-in at a drugstore on 108th Street in Elmhurst, Queens. Although their efforts yielded no immediate reward, they later managed to steal $2,400 worth of drugs from two additional locations that month.
Alcazar emphasizes the risk to consumers who unknowingly purchase these stolen medications, warning that their safety and efficacy might be compromised. He advises business owners to bolster their security measures beyond relying solely on roll-down gates, recommending regular updates to alarm systems.
Centineo remains relieved that his business has not attracted the burglars’ attention, citing his lower daily revenue compared to some establishments. Nonetheless, the looming threat has local shopkeepers and authorities on high alert, seeking any information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible.