Denver police say a clever and very patient burglar has been stealing large quantities of narcotics from grocery-store pharmacies.
They’re asking the public for help in finding the thief, who apparently knows exactly what he’s looking for once inside the pharmacies.
On July 27, a burglar broke into the pharmacy inside the Albertsons store at Alameda Avenue and South Broadway. Investigators learned that he entered the store during normal business hours the day before and climbed up into a false ceiling in the men’s room.
He stayed in the ceiling more than 8 hours until after closing time, then dropped down inside the locked pharmacy. He gathered a large amount of Schedule II narcotics, and then left the store.
On Aug. 24, a similar burglary occurred at the pharmacy in the King Soopers store at 5125 W. Florida Ave. Again, the burglar entered the store the day before and climbed into a false ceiling in the men’s room. He waited until closing time, dropped into the pharmacy and stole another large quantity of Schedule II narcotics.
Schedule II narcotics, which have a high abuse risk, include morphine, methadone and oxycodone.
The exact same scenario took place again on Sept. 6 inside the King Soopers at 2810 Quebec St.
Police say it’s the same suspect in the three burglaries, a white or Hispanic man in his late 20s or early 30s. He has a mustache, stands about 5-foot-7, has a medium weight and build, and wears a ball cap that partially blocks his face from surveillance cameras.
Police say he’s very aware of the cameras and has a good working knowledge of the drugs he’s after. Once inside the pharmacies, he picks and chooses among the hundreds of medicines on the shelves.
Police ask anyone with information about this burglar or the drugs to call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tipline at 720-913-7867.
Staff writer Mike McPhee can be reached at mmcphee@denverpost.com or by calling 303-954-1409.
