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Armed and dangerous...
Police worry too about armed criminals who are high on drugs when they are committing crimes. White said many robberies are committed for drug money.
“If drugs are the root cause, the potential for danger is greater for everyone,” the chief said.
On Wednesday night, a man robbed the Hilltown Eckerd Drug Store at gunpoint, demanding the store's entire supply of OxyContin, a powerful painkiller.
Criminals are extending beyond the borders of the city for a number of reasons, said officials.
For one, they are not known here. For another, they have freer access, Matysik explained.
Strip malls and corners dotted with convenience stores and banks just a short drive from major highways make the suburbs an attractive target for thieves.
“It's easy money without much threat to them,” White said.
Kim Detwiler, a spokeswoman for Univest Bank, said that although employees are not trained any differently for armed robberies, they do receive extensive training that is updated every six months.
“Our top priority is the safety of our staff and customers,” she said.
Hoping to deter criminals, Univest, like many banks, takes a number of precautions to keep the bad guys at bay.
From bullet-resistant glass to man traps — where customers have to pass through a metal detector and two doors, which can quickly be locked — security is always being upgraded, Detwiler said.
“It's a balance, though,” she noted, explaining that you have to weigh the effect of these measures against their benefits.
In any event, authorities agree, people who are victims of armed robberies should always do what they are asked to do.
April 27, 2007 6:32 AM Story Options: Print this story Email a friend ©2007 Copyright Calkins Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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