West London pharmacists are recovering from a nine-day crime spree that saw five pharmacies robbed and staff threatened with a series of deadly weapons.
 
The robber struck at Courts pharmacy, West Molesey, Surrey, on Wednesday 3 March, threatening staff with a knife and demanding cash from the till. The thief also demanded drugs but the pharmacist refused to hand them over, leaving the robber to flee with £270.
 
KC Pharmacy in Teddington, Middlesex was targeted the next day, with the robber wielding a crowbar as he threatened to murder a member of staff if the pharmacist did not meet his demands. The robber demanded money and diazepam, before fleeing as the pharmacist hit the alarm.
 
“He was shouting ‘I’m serious, I will f**king kill him’,” pharmacist Neetesh Gandhi told C+D. Mr Gandhi said he still felt shocked about the incident. “I chased him with two spatulas…and took his registration,” he added.
 
Pharmacies in Esher, Weybridge and Claygate were also targeted between February 27 and March 6.
 
Surrey police confirmed a man had been charged with three robberies had been remanded in custody.