EXCLUSIVE: Desert Life Pharmacy Burglary Police Report Released, Opioids Stolen

VIA SBINSIDER EXCLUSIVE REPORTING| August 3rd, 2024

SBINSIDER has obtained a copy of the initial police report regarding the break-in and burglary at SaddleBrooke’s Desert Life Pharmacy. The burglary likely occurred in the late night or early morning hours of 6\27\24 as the break-in was discovered by a staff member of Coyote Golf Cars, the business next door.  The Golf Cars store employee reported that he parked in the rear parking lot directly behind the delivery door for the pharmacy. He noticed the door air vent had been pried open and called 911.

A deputy arrived about 7:30AM and was informed that no surveillance cameras were installed which would have covered the outside rear door access. The reporting citizen relayed to the deputy that he heard no noises from inside and had not approached the door.

The deputy’s report indicated that the door air vent was pried open enough for a person to crawl through. The door was closed and the handle still locked.

The owner of Desert Life was called and had not been informed as yet been informed that a break-in had occurred. She arrived and showed the deputy the Vivent security camera footage from inside the store which the cabinet in which contained Federally controlled drugs, standing open.

The security video also revealed two suspects low-crawling across the floor and accessing the cabinet with a crowbar. Emptying a nearby trashcan, they removed the bag and used it to carry their loot. Both wore hoodies and apparently, medical face masks. They then exited the premises in the same manner.

Upon entering the premises, the deputy noted that nobody was inside and that no burglary tools were left behind. After further inspection, the owner found the keys to open the locked cabinet remained as they had been left in a desk drawer, undisturbed. During a full store inventory, it was noted that the only items that were missing were the entire contents of the single cabinet used to store opioids.

The report noted that locked opioid cabinet was not marked as storage for any particular drugs and was made to appear as an ordinary storage cabinet. The only people who would know what was in the cabinet would be past or current employees, or a customer who may have observed the cabinet being opened for their prescription from inside the store.

The owner was questioned about former employees and she passed on that she had some difficulties a particular employee who left in March of 2024.

The owner indicated that the retail cost of the inventory was about $5,700.

A Twist on the Story

A further piece of information was provided coincidentally with the deputy’ presence. The pharmacy receives inventory via a distribution service based in Phoenix. Coincidentally, the distribution company reported to the owner that a “tote” (small shipping container) intended for their store was missing and that it was to be included as part of that day’s order. When that day’s shipment arrived, one of the totes had its usual barcode but the shipping paperwork normally found inside was missing. At this time, no one is certain if this was routine mistake or in someway related to the burglary.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s detective squad now takes up the investigation

SBINSIDER will continue to follow this story and report any new developments.

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