Shoplifting or robbery occurred in 70% of pharmacies this year

SURVEY:More than 70 per cent of pharmacists experienced either shoplifting or robbery in their shops this year, new figures show.

Of those affected shoplifting took place in nine out of 10 pharmacies while more than one in five were robbed, according to an Irish Pharmacy Union members’ survey. It found that one in four pharmacy raids involved a weapon.

For pharmacists who experienced crime, 84 per cent had experienced more than one criminal incident. Cosmetics and fake tan were the items mostly likely to be stolen. While three-quarters of pharmacists reported the crimes to gardaí, one third felt the response they received was inadequate. Over 50 per cent of those who decided not to report a crime felt the perpetrator would not be charged.

Some 95 per cent of pharmacists had installed CCTV for protection purposes while two-thirds had used a Garda crime prevention officer.