August 27, 2009 in City

Drug maker offers reward in pharmacy robbery

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Courtesy of Crime Stoppers photo

Surveillance photo of a pharmacy robbery at the South Regal Street ShopKo 9:42 p.m. Aug. 24, 2009. The robber is described as a white male in his 20s with dark stubble and approximately 6 feet, 3 inches tall.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)

The company that makes OxyContin is offering a $1,000 reward for information that solves a Spokane pharmacy robbery Monday.

A man in his 20s with dark stubble and possibly a black wig walked into Shopko, 4515 S. Regal Street, at 9:42 p.m. and handed the pharmacist a note demanding OxyContin. He left with the note and an undisclosed amount of the drug, police said.

Surveillance photos show the robber wore sunglasses, a black t-shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers and a dark baseball hat with a white logo.

No weapon was displayed, according to police. Witnesses described the robber as a white man in his 20s, about 6-foot-3.

Purdue Pharma is offering the reward through Crime Stoppers.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS, or submit tips online at www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters do not have to leave a name but should provide a code name or number.

Based in Stamford, Conn., Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, a powerful pain killer, to the prescription drug market in 1996 and has come under scrutiny for lying about its addictiveness.

In 2003, the company created a program, RxPatrol, to help police and pharmacies track prescription drug robberies.

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