SAN DIEGO (KGTV)-- Three healthcare-related offices were burglaries early Thursday morning, where criminals got away with cash and prescription pills.
At 2:00 am, San Diego Police Officers arrived at the Cos-medic Inc. Plastic Surgery Clinic in Bankers Hill, to find a smashed glass window. They said burglars got away with an unknown amount of money.
At 4:15 am, dispatchers sent officers to the Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy in Clairemont Mesa, after the front door was broken in. Nothing was taken.
Just 20 minutes later, police said criminals shattered the back glass window at the Carmel Valley Pharmacy. The owners immediately contacted the local Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to notify that the burglars took 600 tablets of Adderall, worth up to $9,000 in street value.
"This is one of the drugs we see that are highly abused by high school and college students...What they perceive to be a study-aid," DEA Special Agent in Charge, Colin Ruane said.
The Schedule-2 narcotic often lands in the hands of our youth, which can have deadly consequences.
"In this country, we lose 70,000 people who die of drug overdoses every year," Special Agent Ruane said. "This is just another symptom of the major problem and the major addiction issue we have in the country. They wouldn't be stealing these drugs if there wasn't somebody willing to buy them."
San Diego police said there appeared to be no connection between the burglary at the plastic surgery office and the others. However, after our inquiry, the Department said they are working with the DEA to look for a possible connection between the two pharmacy burglaries. They are also helping the owners get back on their feet.
"We will give them suggestions on additional security measures, make sure they are in compliance," Special Agent Ruane said. "Then, use any additional information from this case and others, in working with the San Diego Police Department to try and find these people who committed this burglary and put them in jail."
The DEA reminds the community that they can help keep drugs out of the wrong hands by participating in "National Drug Take-Back Day" on October 26, 2019. Take any unused or expired drugs to the collection site for free, no questions asked.
There will be 38 collection sites in San Diego. To find the closest drop off location to you, CLICK HERE.
