PHIL: IT RECENT MONTHS, THERE Seems TO BE AN UPTICK ON PHARMACY ROBBERIES TARGETED NOT FOR CASH, BUT FOR THE MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS THEY HAVE ON HAND. VALLEY VERDE PHARMACY ON GREEN VALLEY DRIVE IN WATSONVILLE WAS ROBBED WHEN THE THIEF DEMANDED EMPLOYEES LAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR, THEN ORDERED ONE OF THEM TO LOAD A BAG WITH A NUMBER OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. THE ROBBER WAS IDENTIFIED AS 28 -YEAR-OLD, MICHAEL CERVANTES. OWNER TOM DEMBSKI DECLINED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ROBBERY BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION, BUT TOLD US THIEVES APPEAR TO BE TARGETING PHARMACIES BECAUSE IT’S SIMPLE SUPPLY VERSUS DEMAND TOM DEMBSKI: THEY’RE Nature OF RESTRICTING HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE, NOT ONLY THE DEA BUT ALSO WHAT THEY REQUIRE FOR THE PHARMACIES AND THE DOCTORS, SO THERE’S LESS SUPPLY, SO UNFORTUNATELY THERE’S STILL A DEMAND.CAITLIN: — PHIL: IN HOLLISTER, THERE WERE A STRING OF ARMED ROBBERIES USING A SHOTGUN. RODOLFO DUARTE WAS EVENTUALLY ARRESTED. THE THEFTS HAVE CERTAINLY CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF PHARMACY STORES. MARK WILSON: AS FAR AS THE MEDICATIONS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR, IT Diversifies WITH THE Age group. IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM PARTY DRUGS TO HARD CORE OPIATES. PHIL: Harmonizing TO THE DEA, THE NUMBER OF PHARMACY ROBBERIES NATIONWIDE IS ON THE RISE, AND CALIFORNIA IS LEADING THE PACK. IN 2014, THERE WERE 94 TOTAL IN THE STATE, UP NEARLY 60% FROM THE YEAR BEFORE. DON PERSHALL: IT Fairly MUCH IS A NATIONWIDE EPIDEMIC AT THIS POINT, CERTAINLY SOMETHING W HAVE SEEN MORE OF IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.PHIL: VALLEY VERDI PHARMACY HAS SECURITY CAMERAS AND OTHER MEASURES FOR PREVENTION, BUT THEY’RE TRYING TO DO MORE. TOM DEMBSKI: THE Actuality IS, IT’S A Pharmaceutical Trouble AND WE HAVE TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM FROM THE DEMAND SIDE. SO HAVING PEOPLE BEING ADDICTED OR NEEDING THESE THINGS, WHETHER IT’S LEGITIMATE OR ILLEGITIMATE IS GOING TO BE THE REAL ISSUE WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN THE LONG-TERM. PHIL: CERVANTES WAS CONTACTED IN RELATIONSHIP TO A ROBBERY AT THE VALLEY VERDE PHARMACY LAST YEAR, BUT WAS NOT ARRESTED. HE IS Billed WITH YESTERDAY’S ROBBERY AND COULD BE ARRAIGNED TOMORROW. ERIN: Expressed appreciation for. BAIL FOR CERVANTES WAS SET AT $ 50,000. HE HAS POSTED BAIL AND WAS.
