Thieves target three Garden Grove pharmacies in one night; steal medications from one
Thieves attempted to use a crowbar to break into pharmacies in Garden Grove before dawn on Saturday, May 18, and were caught on surveillance footage distributed by authorities on Monday.
At least two men tried to forcibly enter three buildings located within 2 miles of each other between 4:14 a.m. and 4:45 a.m., Garden Grove Police Lt. Rich Burillo said. The targeted businesses, Hong Pharmacy, Ana Pharmacy and Cali Care Pharmacy, were all along Westminster Avenue, between Newland and Euclid Streets.
The thieves triggered alarms at each building, and security gates prevented anyone from getting inside the first two businesses, police said in a news release. However, the suspects did manage to enter Cali Care Pharmacy and take cough syrup containing the narcotic opioid codeine, as well as other medications.
One person was seen exiting the passenger side of a white sedan driven by an unseen second suspect in surveillance footage released by Garden Grove Police on Monday. The passenger wore a neon green hooded sweatshirt while using large yellow crowbar to force open the front doors of one of the businesses.
Local #Pharmacies are being targeted by #burglary crews. On 5/18/19 between 04:14-04:45am three pharmacies were burglarized in #GG. Thieves are taking medications. Detectives are asking for help to identify the suspects. https://t.co/8u45NC675c #GGPD32 @CityGardenGrove #crowbar pic.twitter.com/yYU8pgRY03
— Garden Grove Police (@GardenGrovePD) May 21, 2019
“Burglars are known to work in pairs,” said Burillo. “It’s rare for them to work alone.”
A detailed description of any potential suspect was not immediately released.
Investigators asked anyone who can help identify the thieves to contact detectives. The Garden Grove Police Department can be reached at 714-741-5704.