Chemists threatened and abused by brazen thieves

RISING TIDE OF RETAIL CRIME NOW DAILY OCCURRENCE FOR PHARMACISTS

- STAFF REPORTER

A BIRMINGHAM pharmacist has revealed how brazen shoplifting, abuse and threats have now become a daily part of working in chemists.

Almost nine in 10 pharmacies have experienced shoplifting, along with an uptick in aggressive behaviour from the public in the last year, according to a survey.

Experts warned that the theft of medications like strong painkillers or drugs that slow down the way the body and brain function “could have serious consequences for someone's health”.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) poll of 476 pharmacies in England found 88% have experienced a surge in shoplifting incidents in the last year. Some 87% also reported an increase in aggressive or intimidating behaviour towards pharmacy teams, while 22% said they had witnessed physical assaults on staff.