Newberg Graphic Online

Walgreens hit again

Public safety — Police believe oxycontin thief returns to the scene of similar Feb. 27 crime

• By: David Sale  
• Published: 3/10/2010 11:36:14 AM

Photo courtesy of Newberg-Dundee Police Department
Video and still photos of the alleged thief were captured by store cameras Sunday at the Newberg Walgreens store.

   For the second time in a week the Newberg Walgreens store was held up by a robber seeking narcotics, and police believe the same man has struck twice.
   “We’re not completely sure it was the same guy — it could be a copycat, but I doubt it,” said Sgt. Tim Weaver of the Newberg-Dundee Police Department.
  The descriptions given by witnesses in both accounts, together with the video and still photos taken by store surveillance cameras, are nearly identical. The suspect is described as a white man, age late 40s to early 50s, with graying dark hair, about 5 foot 10 to 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds.
   The method of the Sunday holdup was also nearly identical to the first one Feb. 27: a lone man entered the store, walked directly to the pharmacy section at the back of the store and demanded Oxycontin (a prescription painkiller, chemically related to morphine). He did not display a firearm but threatened he had one by gesturing with his hand in his jacket pocket.
   A suspect returning to rob the same location is not unheard of, Weaver said. “We were on the lookout, but this kind of thing happens so suddenly — with hundreds of people going in and out of that store, you can’t always tell which is your guy until it’s too late.”
   In the most recent robbery, the suspect was wearing a dark ballcap, sunglasses, a Carhartt (or similar) utility jacket with a hood pulled over his head, blue denim pants and black socks and shoes.
   A white mid-size pickup was seen quickly leaving the area shortly after the robberies on both days. According to witnesses, it appears to be a Ford Ranger or F-150. The pickup may have had a canopy a week ago, but in Sunday’s incident, there was no canopy and a large white or silver sticker was displayed across the back window.
   Anyone with information on these cases may call Officer Tony Oberon or Det. Eric Ronning at 503-538-8321.
   Weaver added that the NDPD has been in contact with other law enforcement agencies in the area, and that the thefts could be related to similar holdups in Portland, Beaverton and Albany.
   “This guy really has our attention now,” he said.

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