Thief steals OxyContin

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Staff report
A polite gunman who told a CVS clerk he was having a fine day, robbed the pharmacy at gunpoint Monday night.
The man, wearing an A&W root beer baseball cap, got away with thousands of dollars worth of OxyContin.
The robbery occurred shortly before 10 p.m. at the CVS at 1702 E. Innes St.
A clerk told police she greeted the man when he entered the store and he replied he “was having a fine day.”
He then walked toward the pharmacy in the back of the store.
Shortly afterward, she heard a loud noise and a scream.
The man then ran out the door, carrying a bag and holding his shirt over his face.
According to police reports, the man approached the pharmacist and an assistant, displaying a silver handgun telling them, “Give me the Oxy and I won’t hurt you.”
Once he got the pills, described as a substantial quantity, he fled the store. The pills ranged from 10 to 80 milligrams.
No one saw a vehicle or his direction of departure.
On the street, the pills sell for $20 or more each.
Salisbury Police Chief Mark Wilhelm said police believe the man may have hit other drug stores in the region or state. He cited a recent robbery in Rutherfordton as similar.
Police are checking the surveillance cameras and hope to release a photo of the suspect.
The man is described as white, 6 feet tall, reddish-blonde hair. He was wearing a gray or light shirt, blue jeans and an A&W root beer baseball cap.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333.