Indiana ranks high nationally for pharmacy robberies

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - We have received an update from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration after our story aired about where Indiana stands against other states regarding pharmacy robberies.

Barbara Carreno, spokesperson for the U.S. DEA Headquarters, tells NewsChannel 15 Indiana is at the number one spot for part of 2012 and was number one last year.

If a drug store is robbed of any controlled substance, the registered retail has 24 hours to notify the DEA of the theft. This is how the administration compiles its reports on where most of the drug robberies are happening.

"Part of the problem with the diversion of these controlled substance medication is that makes them unavailable to legitimate patients who have legitimate needs for these medications," Carreno said.

Carreno said there was an issue with illegal internet pharmacies. She said people could go online and request controlled substances and have it shipped to them. The DEA has cracked down on illegal internet pharmacies, and Carreno said people are finding other methods to get the drugs, such as robbing local pharmacies.

"Part of the problem with the diversion of these controlled substances medication is that makes them unavailable to legitimate patients who have legitimate needs for those medications," she said.

U.S. DEA officials also use the data to help strategize better ways to better the security of the drug, from manufacturing and shipping to keeping them protected at the local pharmacies.