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Sonitrol Commercial Security Blog ... by Joe Wilson

 

  

Protecting Your Pharmacy: How to Defend Against Internal & External Threats

Posted by Joe Wilson

Feb 28, 2024 8:01:07 AM

In the area of law enforcement, securing businesses like pharmacies is vital to maintaining public safety. These establishments are not only hubs of healthcare but also potential targets for criminal activity. Here’s a recent warning from the Vancouver police.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

How to Protect Your Pharmaceuticals From Internal Theft

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jan 12, 2023 2:45:00 PM

While no one managing a hospital or pharmacy wants to believe that their staff would steal from them, the reality is that workers are regularly caught diverting medications illegally. Just last month, two nurses in BC were caughtstealing narcotics. This was done by diverting the drugs and falsifying records.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

How To Protect Your Pharmacy From Internal & External Threats

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jul 14, 2022 6:56:54 AM

Between 2014 and 2018, nearly 29 million doses of prescription drugs were lost or stolen according to a study in the Journal of Drug Issues. Of this, 7.7 million doses were opioids. Of these missing doses, almost 40% were unexplained losses from community pharmacies. 

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

How to Recognize a Shoplifter and Better Secure Your Business

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jun 6, 2022 9:00:00 AM

Shoplifting is a major issue in Western Canada. Even with the decrease in shoplifting in 2020, there were 90,904 police reported incidents of shoplifting under $5,000. Of those, 20,791 were in Alberta and 20,005 were in British Columbia. Manitoba and Saskatchewan had significantly less but still in the thousands at 7,447 and 3,103, respectively.

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Topics: Retail Security, Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

Pharmaceutical Thefts are on the Rise in Western Canada

Posted by Joe Wilson

Dec 13, 2021 9:00:00 AM

During a two-week period in August this year, six Edmonton, Alberta pharmacies had Percocet, codeine and cotridin cough medications stolen from them. Pharmacists believe it was because prescription cough syrups like cotridin are difficult to obtain.  

This wasn’t just a one-off incident - pharmacy robberies are on the rise in Alberta. In 2019 there were eight robberies. This jumped to 18 in 2020 and in 2021 there have already been 39. This puts staff and customers at great risk, especially with criminals going behind the counter and demanding pharmacists open the safe.  

Pharmacy theft is also present in other western provinces in Canada. Just last month, armed robbers stole cash and pills from a pharmacy in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

Security Solutions: 3 Tips to Protect Medical Equipment and Supplies

Posted by Joe Wilson

Sep 29, 2021 2:04:46 PM

Medical supply theft is a reality whether thieves are looking to pocket masks, gloves and sanitizer or are stealing medical equipment. That’s why a proper security solution is crucial to protecting your medical equipment and supplies.

In fact, during COVID, hospitals across the country were forced to lock up personal protective equipment and sanitation products to prevent theft and ensure their staff had the supplies when they needed them. Even large city hospitals have seen thieves force their way onto the property and take equipment valued at $1.2 million. 

And medical supply theft doesn’t just affect the hospital’s bottom line. It affects staff safety and patient health. Thieves have also targeted medical clinics, family doctors and specialist offices.

Luckily, there are ways that medical businesses and hospitals can protect their organizations from medical supply theft.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

5 Simple Ways to Protect Your Alberta Pharmacy From Theft

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jul 20, 2021 12:38:00 PM

Is your Alberta-based pharmacy protected properly from theft? With crime rates on the up, pharmaceutical security should be a priority for your business. 

2021 has seen a huge spike in pharmacy theft in Edmonton when compared to the previous few years. According to CTV News Edmonton, Alberta's capital city has already seen 28 pharmacy robberies - either failed or successful - occur by May 2021 alone.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

4 Security Tips For Pharmacies & Medical Centers

Posted by Joe Wilson

Mar 23, 2021 12:47:00 PM

Calgary has been experiencing a surge in pharmacy theft with 42 pharmacies targeted since September 2020. It may seem like a small number but compared to the single pharmacy robbery in 2019, this is a huge increase. 

Staff have been held up at gunpoint as well as tied up and locked in bathrooms in more recent cases.

And with ongoing debates over COVID and vaccines, many pharmacies owners and managers are concerned about the safety of their staff and customers. To help make sure that your pharmacy is safe during the pandemic and as vaccines roll out, consider these 4 steps.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

Pharmacies and Clinics Need Integrated Security Systems

Posted by Joe Wilson

Sep 24, 2020 9:00:00 AM

Professionally organized criminals steal high-value items like electronics and jewellery and cars, but they also steal drugs from illegal sources and retail outlets like pharmacies. And it’s not just the pros that target pharmacies and healthcare facilities. Adult individuals, criminal gangs, and even juveniles will go after drugs that they can sell quickly.

Take, for example, the string of robberies the Toronto police were investigating in March.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security, Security for Pharmacies

Security is Essential for Pharmacies as Drug Theft Continues to Rise in Western Canada

Posted by Joe Wilson

Aug 17, 2018 7:48:10 AM

A robust and verified security solution is now more important for pharmacies than ever before, with opioid drug robberies in Western Canada continuing to rise.

In Alberta alone, according to CBC News, roughly 76,700 doses of pharmaceutical drugs were swiped during break-and-enters in the first nine months of last year. Depending on the size of the pills, that could fill a staggering 800 bottles. 

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security

How to Protect Your Pharmaceutical Company or Retail Location from Crime

Posted by Joe Wilson

Jan 8, 2018 10:00:00 AM

Recently there has been an increase of pharmaceutical crime. According to the Pharmaceutical Security Institute, incidents in the North America region increased over one hundred percent. This is partially due to ineffective pharmacy security and criminals being more versatile and creative with their methods.

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security, Security for Pharmacies

Protect Your Pharmacy from Opioid Drug Robbery

Posted by Joe Wilson

Aug 16, 2017 2:20:18 PM

Last month, a downtown Kelowna Pharmasave was robbed by a thief demanding prescription drugs and indicating he had a concealed weapon. The suspect was subsequently recognized and picked up by RCMP officers based on images recorded with security surveillance cameras.

Last year, the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia reported a jump in pharmacy robberies, and the trend was seen across Canada. The chair of the Canadian Pharmacists Association, Alistair Bursey, told CBC News, “It’s a problem that’s been going on across the country for the last few years.”

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Topics: Pharmacy and Drug Store Security, Security for Pharmacies

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Joe Wilson, Owner of Sonitrol Western Canada

We provide our customers with the best commercial security solutions and quality service backed by our unique Guarantee and Commitment to Service. It's something unverified conventional alarm companies simply cannot guarantee!


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