CRIME SPREE TARGETING CALGARY-AREA PHARMACIES

Two robbers after a highly-addictive painkiller have held up at least
10 Calgary-area pharmacies, and police are concerned they're getting
more violent.

In each case, the man and woman responsible have taken oxycodone, a
powerful prescription drug that has become a commodity on the illegal
drug market.

Oxycodone -- sold under the commercial name OxyContin-- can be fatal
if misused, but police are also concerned the couple suspected of
committing the robberies poses a threat to the public as they become
increasingly desperate for the drug and more aggressive toward their
victims.

"One concern is over the escalating violence in the robberies
themselves," said Staff Sgt. Beverly Voros.

The most recent holdup happened Thursday, when the suspects robbed the
Super Drug Mart pharmacy at 6449 Crowchild Trail S. W.

The robberies started on Oct. 17, 2008 and most have taken place in
the southwest communities of Strathcona Park, Glamorgan and
Rosscarrock. Two took place in Cochrane, northwest of Calgary.

The woman has typically threatened staff members by claiming to have a
gun, though no firearm has been seen. In one of the more recent cases,
however, the man brandished a knife during the robbery.

Oxycodone is sought by drug abusers because its effects mimic those of
heroin, but it's much cheaper and can be obtained legally.

With the suspects still at large, investigators aren't able to tell if
the suspects are stealing the drug to feed their own addictions or
others'.

"It could be personal use, it could be for selling for cash," Voros
said.

Although oxycodone abuse here isn't a significant problem like it has
become in parts of Atlantic Canada, local police said so-called
"hillbilly heroin" is being sold in Calgary's street-level drug trade.

"For the most part, you see it downtown," said Det. Doug Hudacin, an
expert with the Calgary police drug unit.

Although the 10 recent holdups have police concerned, robbery is only
one way people can illegally get oxycodone. Using stolen prescription
pads and tactics like "doctor shopping"--visiting different physicians
to obtain several prescriptions--are common methods of fraudulently
obtaining medications.

The Alberta College of Pharmacists is working with police, the College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and other groups to draft a plan
aimed at reducing the abuse of prescription drugs like oxycodone.

"We need to address all of them. There is some evidence coming from
Eastern Canada . . . that oxycodone is near the top of the heap," said
Greg Eberhart, registrar of the Alberta College of
Pharmacists.

The man and woman police are seeking in connection with the recent
robberies are both Caucasian and between 25 and 30 years old. The man
is approximately five foot eight and 150 pounds;the woman is five foot
four and approximately 120 pounds.

Call police at 403-567-6200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at
1-800-222-8477 if you have any information about the robberies.