BREAK-INS FOR RAVE DRUG TROUBLE VETERINARIANS

Nov. 16, 2000 - For the first 14 years of his veterinary practice, Steve
Kromka says no would-be thief even so much as smudged the clinic's glass.

In the past six weeks, his practice has been broken into twice.

Ketamine, an animal tranquilizer and now a popular drug used at raves, is
the likely reason for the increase, he said.

The most recent break-in, which occurred early Wednesday morning, was one
of four such incidents this week at Denver-area veterinary clinics
involving burglars presumably looking for ketamine.

"They come in for drugs, specifically ketamine," said Kromka, owner of the
Evans East Animal Hospital. "They don't take cash. They smash windows. They
break doors."

While none of Wednesday's burglars apparently got any ketamine, the
break-ins are becoming a constant threat to veterinarians across the metro
area.

On Tuesday, thieves stole eight bottles of ketamine from a clinic on East
Orchard Road, and burglars tried unsuccessfully to break into another
Arapahoe County clinic. On Sunday, thieves stole ketamine from a clinic on
South Wadsworth Boulevard, just 1 mile from a clinic that was burglarized
Nov. 4.

The burglars broke in through Kromka's back door Wednesday and then
proceeded to destroy two more doors. When they forced open Kromka's locked
X-ray cabinet, he said, they ruined hundreds of dollars worth of film.

The last time thieves broke into the Evans East clinic, they came through
the skylight.

"They didn't get anything," Kromka said, exasperated. "They never do.
There's nothing here."

Kromka said many veterinarians now hide their ketamine or take other
precautions. Some, such as David Komitor, owner of the Greenwood Village
Veterinary Clinic, have virtually stopped using the drug because of the
break-ins.

Komitor's clinic has been broken into four times since March, even though
Komitor said he posts signs telling would-be thieves he has no ketamine.
While he said he is frustrated by the constant disruptions and expenses, he
is equally concerned about the people who may be using this drug.

Ketamine is most often used at raves to augment the effects of other
popular club drugs such as Ecstasy. Taken in high doses, it can be lethal.

"I just can't imagine people using this on themselves," he said.

Local authorities say veterinary break-ins have exploded in the past two
years, corresponding to the increased popularity of raves. The crimes have
become a problem nationwide, as well. In Chicago last year, police arrested
three teenagers in connection with more than 30 break-ins in four states.
Officials in San Diego are reporting an increase in people trying to
smuggle the drug in from Mexico.

In Denver, the rash of crime has left police scrambling.

"We're just trying to get organized on these particular drugs," said Lt.
Curt Williams of the Metro Drug Task Force. "We're aware of the problem and
we're working on the problem. We're just a little behind." The Colorado
Veterinary Medical Association is putting together information telling
veterinarians how they can protect their clinics, and the break-ins have
been a hot topic at recent CVMA meetings.

But ultimately, local veterinarians know there's little they can do to
protect their clinics.

"We do the best we can to secure it," Kromka said. "We have bars. We put in
steel-frame doors. But if they want to get it, they can always smash a
window. Just like any robbery, what can you do?"