Purdue Pharma, Twitter Fight Pharmacy Crime

Purdue Pharma L.P. has launched an additional tool to fight pharmacy crime through Twitter. Pharmacy staff, law enforcement officials and loss prevention personnel can now follow updates about pharmacy robberies, burglaries and potential threats in their area and nationwide through Twitter/RXPATROL.

The tweets provide safety and security tips for pharmacy staff that may help them better protect customers and their businesses. Followers also receive notices for reward offers that are funded through Purdue's partnership with Crime Stoppers and other local anti-crime organizations.

"Pharmacy crime is a problem in many communities," said Captain Richard Conklin, program analyst for Stamford, Conn.-based RxPATROL. "RxPATROL is using new communication vehicles to help pharmacy staff and law enforcement fight pharmacy crime."

The RxPATROL Program tracks and analyzes reports of pharmacy crime throughout the United States and posts important crime related information on its web site. The program also issues alerts and updates via email to registered users in the pharmacy and law enforcement communities. However, since many pharmacists do not have Internet access during work hours, but do have access to cell phones, RxPATROL now uses Twitter to deliver pharmacy crime updates instantly to followers via their cell phones.

The tweets provide specific information on robberies and burglaries, including the exact location of the incident, description of the suspect and any pertinent information that could lead to the capture of a suspect. All information is verified with local law enforcement before it’s released. All tweets direct followers to the RxPATROL database for additional information, including pictures and video of suspects.

Purdue Pharma developed RxPATROL (Rx Pattern Analysis Tracking Robberies & Other Losses) in 2003 as a collaborative effort between industry, pharmacists and law enforcement to collect, collate, analyze and disseminate information on pharmacy theft. In 2005, Purdue partnered with Crime Stoppers and affiliated local anti-crime programs throughout the country to offer rewards for information that can lead to the arrest of pharmacy robbery suspects.

Purdue Pharma L.P. is engaged in the research, development, production, and distribution of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines and hospital products.