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New Pharmacy Technology Helps Track Down Crooks

SCRANTON — We’re learning more about a new type of technology aimed at stopping thieves. Police in Lackawanna County this week arrested an alleged r...

SCRANTON -- We're learning more about a new type of technology aimed at stopping thieves.

Police in Lackawanna County this week arrested an alleged robber when a pharmacist placed a GPS tracking device in his bag.

That tracking device was placed in a prescription bottle and eventually led police to Dannie Bradford of Wayne County who's accused of stealing nearly $3,000 worth of Adderall from the CVS pharmacy on Moosic Street.

We spoke to other pharmacists who say the technology has come about in the last year and they want people to know they're using it.

Police say they caught up with Dannie Bradford near Moscow, miles away from the pharmacy in Scranton and hours after the robbery that Bradford is accused of committing.

That's because police say the pharmacist behind the counter planted a GPS tracking device in Bradford's bag. It may sound revolutionary but pharmacists say the technology is becoming commonplace.

"Obviously there's a need for it because of the number of robberies that are going on, both robberies and break-ins. It's good to have the technology.  Most chain store pharmacies and many of the independents including myself do have the technology,” said Eric Pusey.

Pusey, who owns Medicap Pharmacy in Olyphant, started putting trackers in his bottles because he knows all too well what it's like to be burglarized.

His store was hit twice in 2012. During one break-in, a burglar broke through his window and stole a large amount of prescription pills. The burglar was never caught.

"The effect it has on the pharmacy afterwards is just intense. There's so much paperwork, so much logistics involved. It just makes the chances or probability of a successful capture so much higher."

Pharmacists say the tracking devices are simply stickers and most pharmacists stick them to the top of the cap on a bottle or on the bottom.

The device is small and difficult for a thief to detect. Pharmacists say it's also inexpensive. So it's a no-brainer for pharmacists at Figliomeni Drug Store in Carbondale, who only heard about the technology after the CVS robbery this past weekend.

"It's virtually impossible to stop the robbery from happening. This way you can track who did it and deter people from going back and doing it again,” said Lauren Wallis.

The pharmacists we spoke to said publicizing their GPS technology may work as a deterrent for would-be robbers.

As for Dannie Bradford, the man accused of holding up this pharmacy, he faces a long list of robbery charges.

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