Cops: Robber continues spree, takes CUSTOMER hostage
WOOLWICH – The drugstore thief who carjacked a priest in Haddonfield has struck again, this time robbing a CVS Pharmacy in Gloucester County while armed with a crowbar, authorities said.
The robber took a female customer hostage during the crime, which occurred shortly after 11 p.m. Friday at the pharmacy on Center Square Road, according to Woolwich police.
He threatened to “shoot” or “kill” the woman if a pharmacy
technician didn’t hand over all of the store’s oxycodone, which is an addictive and powerful painkiller, police said. He never showed a gun but did display the crowbar, authorities noted.
The CVS technician gave the narcotics to the robber, who then unsuccessfully tried to steal the hostage’s car keys, according to police. The thief then ran away, headed north.
Police, whose headquarters is near the pharmacy, said they responded quickly and used a K9 in an attempt to track down the suspect.
“Thankfully, no employee or customer was hurt during the incident,” the police department said on its Facebook page.
Woolwich police said they believe the robber is the same man responsible for similar crimes that occurred at Rite Aid pharmacies on Tuesday in Haddonfield and last month in Logan. Detectives from those communities are working together on the case, and Rite Aid has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for tips that lead to the man’s arrest.
The crime at the Haddonfield drugstore on Haddon Avenue occurred about 12:10 p.m. Tuesday. The thief was holding a traffic cone when he entered the store, displayed a handgun to employees and demanded Adderall and oxycodone, authorities said.
He escaped with some bottles of Adderall pills, ran into the parking lot and carjacked a priest, but abandoned that vehicle about a block away and ran off. No one was hurt.
A witness said the robber apologized during the crime.
The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office described the Haddonfield robber as a white man who is about 6 feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds. He wore a long yellow raincoat, yellow reflective vest, hooded sweatshirt, black mask and white hardhat. The man who robbed the Logan drugstore wore a similar outfit, authorities said.
Woolwich police said their suspect was dressed in heavy layers of clothing. Surveillance photos released by police show he wore a plaid hooded sweatshirt or jacket and covered much of his face with a black mask.
Anyone with information about the CVS robbery or the suspect is urged to call the Woolwich Township Police Department Detective Unit at (856) 467-1667, ext. 1224. Authorities say tipsters will remain anonymous.
Filed under: General Problems
Employees’ health or safety does not matter either. Don’t get me started.