Two suspects armed with firearms stole a quantity of narcotics from a Newmarket pharmacy on Tuesday.
At about 1:45 p.m. on Jan. 17, the two masked men entered the pharmacy in the area of Davis Drive and Charles Street. One had a firearm and the other carried a bag, York Regional Police said.
However, one of the pharmacy owners, Mark Bashta, who was in the store at the time of the robbery, reports that each of the two suspects appeared to be carrying guns.
He said the pair immediately jumped over the counter and told everyone to get down on the ground. They demanded the safe be opened, he said.
The incident went by quickly, lasting just one minute and 48 seconds. Bashta said he feels that the robbers, who looked young, were not expecting the large team of employees at the store and were overwhelmed and unable to control everything.
The suspects are described as male, aged 18 to 25, wearing masks, hoods and dark clothing. One had a heavier build than the other.
As soon as the robbery began, panic buttons in the store were pressed and several people called police, Bashta said. These are just a few measures the pharmacy has to protect staff in these kinds of incidents.
The main goal is to keep people safe, he said, which often means letting the robbers take what they came in for.
“At the end of the day, I will value the human life that’s working with me over any narcotics,” Bashta said.
No one was physically injured and the losses were minimal, the owner said, which to him is the best-case scenario considering the situation.
It was the first time Skycare Pharmacy has robbed, but similar incidents have occurred at other pharmacies in Newmarket and throughout York Region.
Bashta believes this could be because narcotics are small and easy to conceal and have a high street value, making them easy to sell for a big payout.
York Regional Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward, including anyone who may have seen something suspicious or has dashcam or video surveillance footage from the area. It also reminds business owners of the importance of having and maintaining surveillance equipment.
Anyone with information can contact the hold-up unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 6630 or leave an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips or online.
