Frustrated with losses of over $40,000 in drug theft and store damage, owner Naomi Yuen of The Medicine Shoppe in Village Square since 2018, has endured four break-ins within a four-month time period. Orinda Police Department is investigating, and no arrests have been made.
Losing more than $40,000 in stolen cash, drugs and store damage, pharmacist Naomi Yuen said her store was broken into four times in a span of four months and she’s living a nightmare.
The only independently-owned pharmacy in the Lamorinda area since 2018, The Medicine Shoppe is located at 282 Village Square, next to McCaulou’s.
Frustrated the thieves are getting away with it, Yuen said her pharmacy was broken into on April 29, May 31, July 31 and Aug.14. Each burglary took place between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.. The security alarm rang each time, and, each time, once Orinda police arrived, it was too late.
Late, not due to response times; late because the criminals were that quick.
“All three break-ins were when we were closed,” said Yuen, who filed police reports for all the incidents. “Each time there have been four to five burglars that come in. Our alarm system goes off, but the burglars are in and out in two minutes, so when the police get there, they are gone.”
The most recent on Aug. 14 was the fourth burglary since April, 2020.
“They broke the front window and took some cough syrup containing codeine, but that was it,” she said of the 2020 incident. “The main cost then was replacing the window.”
For the most recent burglaries, based on her inside and outside security camera footage given to the police, Yuen said the burglars wore hoods and masks, making identification difficult. She said, based on the clothes they wore, they appeared to be in their late teens or 20s.
There is a reason why the pharmacy, in particular, is a target.
“Along with some cash from the register, they are looking for Schedule II narcotics, like Oxycodone and Norco, and ADHD medications, like Adderall or Vyvanse,” she said.
By law, Yuen said pharmacies must keep these types of drugs locked in a cabinet or safe.
“So the burglars look for anything that is locked,” she added. “They only want them due to their high value in selling them on the street. We stopped stocking these medications.”
A sign on the front door states they don’t carry such drugs.
“Since the police have not caught the suspects previously, I do not know if they are repeat offenders, but I think they most likely are,” said Yuen.
She said the police officers identified the license plates from previous break-ins, but they were stolen vehicles.
Yuen asked the officers for added security measures.
“The police refused to leave a parked patrol car in the parking lot outside the pharmacy during closed hours due to ‘short staff and not enough budget,’” she said.
Orinda Police Chief Ryan Sullivan said he cannot comment on the burglaries due to the investigation. However he said, “The Orinda Police Department is not short-staffed and there is not a budget issue. Orinda Police do patrol the area of the business during the night and hours they are closed.”
Assistant City Manager Douglas Alessio expressed empathy for Yuen.
“I think it is disappointing and frustrating that a local small business has been the target of criminal activity,” he said. “The City strives to work with residents and business owners to deter crime and keep Orinda safe.”
Alessio added, “Our police chief and his team are able to work with the business owner to provide advice on what steps they can take to make them a less likely target.”
Mayor Darlene Gee has confidence in the city’s law enforcement team.
“Orinda’s police force is staffed appropriately for a city of our population and size, and there is no level of police staffing that can prevent all crime,” said Gee. “The City staff and Council work closely with our police chief to understand the needs and help ensure our law enforcement resources are adequate and appropriate, including optimizing our technological tools.”
In brainstorming ideas, Yuen said she asked their landlord about hiring security or adding additional deterrents – like bars – but has not received a response yet.
Her frustration comes from how some security measures can feel useless.
“Cameras only do so much if the suspects are covered up and they use stolen vehicles,” she said. “We are looking into installing a metal gate [ourselves].”
To cover the losses her insurance doesn’t cover, Yuen started a GoFundMe campaign at gofund.me/18e20330.