UPDATE: A 30-year-old man from Stafford has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and taken into custody, Staffordshire Police told C+D yesterday (January 12).

Police are still investigating the theft of controlled drugs in two raids on the same Rowlands Pharmacy in nine days, C+D has learned.

Burglars stole an unknown quantity of epilepsy drug pregabalin in various strengths after smashing the front window of Rowlands Pharmacy in Marston Road, Stafford in the early hours of December 31, Staffordshire Police said.

The same branch had been targeted the previous week (December 22), with burglars making off with 140 tablets of sleeping drug nitrazepam and an unknown amount of pregabalin, police said.

No arrests for either incident had been made when Staffordshire Police spoke to C+D last Friday (January 8). Police believe the two burglaries are linked.

They warned the public that taking pregabalin can cause hallucinations, palpitations, blurred vision, vomiting, speech disorder, euphoria, and passing out. Anyone who has taken the stolen medication and experiences any symptoms should go to hospital "immediately”, police stressed.

Anyone who finds prescription drugs or is offered any for sale should alert Staffordshire Police by phoning 101, quoting incident number 805 of December 22, Staffordshire Police said. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by phoning 0800 555 111 or visiting the organisation's website, they added.
 

What can pharmacies do to protect themselves from crime?

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