Toronto pharmacy robberies have dropped by 82% since the late introduction of safes

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Timely storage of drugs in safes has dramatically reduced the number of robberies of pharmacies in the city.

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Toronto police said the crackdown comes after robberies at all 4,900-plus Ontario pharmacies have gotten out of hand and often turned violent as gun-wielding crooks seek drugs like oxycodone, morphine and codeine.

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“One year ago, the Holdup Squad spoke publicly about the alarming increase in pharmacy robberies in Toronto,” said Toronto Police Holdup Unit Insp. Joseph Matys announced this at a press conference held on Wednesday.

“After working with Toronto pharmacies and the Ontario College of Pharmacists, the introduction of time-delay safes has resulted in an 82% drop in pharmacy robberies by 2024 compared to the same time last year.”

At this time in 2023, there were 60 drugstore robberies, Matys said, explaining that there were 10 similar robberies in Toronto at this time this year.

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“This achievement highlights the impact of delayed safes and the importance of collaboration between stakeholders to address issues affecting the safety and well-being of our communities,” he said.

Matys said the Holdup Squad, with the help of its community partnerships and engagement department, has begun working with local pharmacies and external partner agencies such as the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the Ontario Pharmacists Association to spread awareness and safety tips in 2022. number of robberies and victims of pharmacy workers.

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Police have suggested pharmacies invest in better security cameras, panic alarms and delayed safes.

A time-delayed safe has an electronic timer that prevents access until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the correct combination has been entered. The use of override codes, keys, or other methods to circumvent the time delay is prohibited under this mandate.

According to Matys, some robbers run away from the robbery when they realize that they cannot get the drugs in the store quickly.

By March 2023, all pharmacies in Ontario are required to start using delayed safes. This mandate also requires all community pharmacies to post approved signs indicating the use of safes at each community entrance and pharmacy counter.

“Criminals rely on pharmacies to get in and out quickly when stealing drugs,” said Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Mark Dapat, co-chair of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police's public safety and crime prevention committee. conference.

“Mandating these safes will act as a robbery deterrent, improve overall safety and prevent stolen drugs from fueling Ontario's opioid crisis.”

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