Gunman holds up Los Lunas pharmacies

LOS LUNAS, N.M. (KRQE) - Two bold robberies in the same town two nights in a row, and the thief was after the same thing: heavy-duty painkillers.

The stickups happened at the two Walgreens in Los Lunas on Monday and Tuesday nights.

In both cases the suspect was reordered on surveillance video.

He walked in, threatened the pharmacist with a gun and demanded prescription drugs.

The first holdup happened at 1 a.m. at the Walgreens at the Valencia Y, the junction of State Routes 6 and 47 on the east side of the city.

The second robbery happened just before 10 p.m. at the Walgreens on Main Street near Interstate 25.

In both robberies, the suspect wore gloves, glasses that covered his entire face and a hooded jacket.

Detectives obviously think the two cases are linked.

"This is the first pharmacy-related robbery that I've seen," said Lt. Vince Torres of the Los Lunas Police Department. "I know that prescription-related offenses are on the increase, and this type of crime is increasing."

Police say based on the amount of drugs stolen they believe the suspect plans to sell them.

Police also want other local pharmacies to be aware of the crime so they can be on alert.