Break-ins at dozens of Philly pharmacies have owners — and customers — shaken

As demonstrators continued to protest the police-related death of Walter Wallace Jr. this week in Philadelphia, looters targeted an estimated 200 stores citywide—including more than 80 pharmacies. In addition to larger chains like CVS Health, a number of small independent pharmacies sustained damage and had merchandise stolen. While pharmacies often attract thieves seeking drugs with high street value, civil unrest rippling across the country has invited more break-ins in recent months. Many of the stories vandalized this week were also targeted just 4 months ago as tempers flared over the police-related killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. “They went through this in May, and now they got hit again,” noted Philadelphia Association of Retail Druggists Executive Director Mel Brodsky. “Some of them are really thinking what they should do,” he said. “A lot of them are thinking of selling out.”