Robber Targets People Picking Up Prescriptions
DENVER (CBS4) - Picking up prescriptions has taken a dangerous turn for customers at several pharmacies in the Denver area.
A robber seen on five different surveillance cameras is using small talk to find his victims, according to police.
Aurora police used Facebook to post a picture of the man, who they say is targeting people carrying their prescriptions outside the store.
"If something happens like that you just need to run or I don't know go back inside I guess," said Annabelle Desmond, who was shopping at one of the pharmacies on Sunday.
Aurora police say the suspect lurks in the pharmacy waiting area, listening for a customer collecting a prescription. Or he strikes up a conversation with customers who have visible injuries. Then he follows them into the parking lot where he steals their prescriptions.
"I would expect maybe credit card fraud and stuff like that through the switches inside, but I wouldn't expect being accosted out in the parking lot," said Scott Daly, another customer.
In at least one case, Aurora Police say the suspect pushed a victim.
"It's scary because somebody would do that in the open like that," said customer Joel Robinson.
The suspect struck earlier this month at the Walgreens on East Hampden Avenue off South Tower Road, and also at the Walmart near East 52nd Ave and North Chambers Road in Denver.
Days later, he targeted a victim at Walgreen's on Green Valley Ranch Boulevard in Denver. Last Monday in Aurora, the same crime happened at East Mississippi Avenue and South Chambers Road, and then at East Alameda Avenue and South Havana Street.
In all of the surveillance photos, the suspect may be hiding his face behind sunglasses.
"I'll just have to keep my eyes open, along with everybody else, I guess," said Robinson.
Desmond agreed, "Yeah, I think the drive-through is a safer place."
Police are asking the public for information, and Crime Stoppers is currently offering a $2,000 reward in the case.