For almost four years, hundreds of thousands of powerful, highly controlled prescription narcotics disappeared from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center’s outpatient pharmacy and no one noticed. Between January and March alone, 745 hydrocodone pills were stolen each day, a police report says.

Three months ago, hospital officials asked Spokane police to investigate, and the magnitude of the theft became apparent.

Police say pharmacy technician Paul Martsin, 25, is suspected of stealing 261,756 hydrocodone pills since December 2009, with a street value exceeding $1 million.

Check out the full story here. (Jody Lawrence-Turner/The Spokesman-Review)

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