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Nicole Gonzales reportingA new measure by a North Salt Lake pharmacy foiled a would-be robber's attempt at getting OxyContin. The store had already been robbed of OxyContin twice recently, so owners installed a 30-minute time-clock safe for OxyContin and other narcotics.
Last night, an armed man demanded the drugs twice but was told employees couldn't immediately get to them, so he just walked out. Today, Eyewitness News spoke to the store owner who witnessed it all.
Dale Loveridge is extremely relieved that no one was hurt and nothing was stolen from the store he's owned for nearly 50 years. This is the third time Orchard Drug has been robbed in recent months. Every time, Loveridge has been working a normal day, then in seconds his life is in danger.
"You think you're going to wait on an individual, and you find out the individual is masked and has a gun in their hand and they're demanding certain narcotics," Loveridge said.
It happened last night just after 8:00 near 51 South 130 East. North Salt Lake police say a man about 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing a mask, hoodie and sunglasses, walked into Orchard Drug demanding OxyContin at gunpoint.
Loveridge said he told the man about the timed safe, but the suspect didn't believe him. His two other co-workers confirmed the fact, then the man got nervous and left without anything.
"It's nice to know that it did work. That's the reason we put it in, thinking they wouldn't want to endanger their position by staying around," Loveridge said.
Loveridge says the safe was very expensive, but it was worth the money.
Police are still looking for this armed man. They think he may be in his 20s, driving a silver sedan with a spoiler and tinted windows. If you have any information on who he is, contact the North Salt Lake Police Department at 298-6000.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
