PHARMACY ROBBED AT GUNPOINT

Stella’s Pharmacy, one of a disappearing breed of independent drug stores in the local area, was robbed last week. No one was hurt. Charles Rogers If a thief is intent on robbing a drug store, one would think his point would be to steal drugs, besides whatever else he could get his hands on. Not in the case of three men who burst into Stella Pharmacy at East 87th Street and Glenwood Road last week. Not only did they miss taking anything from the pharmaceutical department, they even missed the cash register.

According to officials of the 69th Precinct Detective Squad, patrol officers were called to the popular northern Canarsie pharmacy on Tuesday, December 8th shortly after 8 p.m. and were met by one of the drug store’s workers who said she and others in the store had just been robbed by three bandits with guns.

The woman said the trio, all wearing sweatshirts with hoods and covering their faces, demanded money from the cash register. Two of the robbers were wearing gloves, she said.

They all aimed their guns at another worker and told her to open the register, but the second woman was unable to do so and the thieves grabbed her purse containing more than $800 cash, credit cards and her driver’s license. They then turned to a male customer and took a black jacket from him. They accosted another employee without taking anything from him, and then fled west on Glenwood Road on foot. It’s not known whether they got into a car at that point. Police said no drugs or medical supplies were taken.

Cops conducted a canvass of the area with negative results. No one was hurt and police said they would not release the names of the victims at this time.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the local detective squad at (718) 257-6215 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.