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OxyContin thief strikes at UT hospital pharmacy

Pharmacy Regulation Resource, August 31, 2006

A South Jordan, UT, hospital pharmacy was robbed on August 24 by a man who simply walked up and handed a clerk a note demanding OxyContin and stating he had a gun, the Deseret Morning News reported. Police arrested the man several hours later at a nearby motel.

Police said Chad R. Mecham, 23, made off with more than 100 OxyContin pills from the Alta View Hospital pharmacy. Police surrounded the hospital believing the thief was still inside and hiding, but a search of the facility came up empty. Tips led police to the motel, where Mecham was arrested without incident.

Mecham is believed to be responsible for several other similar robberies of retail pharmacies in recent weeks, the paper reported. A day after the arrest, a similar OxyContin robbery took place at another retail pharmacy in the area.

Hospital officials were surprised at the brazen nature of the Alta View robbery, which took place despite the presence of security and surveillance cameras.

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