BENSALEM TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Police in Bensalem Township say a delivery driver was assaulted and robbed outside a pharmacy Thursday morning by three suspects who allegedly traveled from New York City to steal high-value weight-loss medications.
“Thank God the person is OK. They were thrown to the ground during it,” said Bensalem Public Safety Director Bill McVey.
The robbery happened around 9 a.m. outside Smart Choice Pharmacy on Street Road.
Police said the driver was dropping off GLP1 medications when he was attacked. Two boxes containing Mounjaro, Ozempic and Trulicity, worth about $16,000, were stolen.
The suspects fled the area in a gold-colored Toyota, nearly striking a nearby witness who was attempting to record the incident, according to police. However, the suspects didn’t get far after the robbery, stopped and were ultimately arrested by officers a short time later, about two miles away on Street Road as they approached the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Investigators said two men and a 17-year-old are now in custody, facing various charges.
Police identified the suspects as 41-year-old Joshua Dupree of Tamaqua, Pa., 21-year-old Jahnoi Dawkins of Albany, NY, and a 17-year-old male from New York City.
Pharmacy staff reported receiving calls and emails in the days leading up to the robbery asking about delivery times and when medications would be in stock, inquiries that in hindsight appear suspicious.
Police said their investigation determined the suspects waited in the parking lot for about two hours before the delivery driver arrived.
Jigar Patel, a pharmacist at the independent pharmacy, said nothing appeared unusual in the moments before.
“Thank God there were no gunshots or anything like that were involved, but no, there was nothing that came out to us for us to suppose that, ‘Hey, there’s something going on.’ I hope it never ever happens again,” said Patel.
In Montgomery County, Skippack Pharmacy owner Mak Amin said his business was robbed of GLP1 medications in an overnight break-in last August.
“We interact with delivery drivers all the time. I’ve actually asked our delivery driver and previous delivery drivers if they’re armed when they take these medications and drop them off to pharmacies. Some of them are, and some of them are not,” Amin said. “It is a fear that some delivery drivers have, and sadly, it does happen from time to time.”
The medications stolen in Thursday’s robbery are in high demand. McVey said he’s not aware of any similar cases, but authorities are now looking into that and working to determine if this incident was isolated or possibly part of a larger operation.
“I am not aware of a black market, but I’m sure one exists, and that is probably the motive why they were there and why they committed this robbery,” McVey said. “I’m not shocked that it was targeted, but hopefully this does not become a trend.”
Patel said the pharmacy has already changed the way it accepts deliveries, and vendors are making adjustments as well.
Police said all of the stolen medication was recovered and returned to the pharmacy as the investigation continues.
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