Olds RCMP are continuing to investigate an armed robbery of the Rexall Drug Store at about 5:55 p.m. on Feb. 1.
Police are hoping to locate persons of interest this week following two individuals wearing balaclavas and armed with a handgun and a long-barrelled gun entering the store last week.
Police said upon entering the store, the suspects went to the back of the store and forced an employee to the pharmacy area, where they demanded narcotics from a safe. Suspects made off with what police described as a ìsignificant quantity of narcotic medication,î including amphetamines, morphine, codeine and oxycontin.
RCMP responded to the scene within two to three minutes of getting the call, but Staff Sgt. Kevin Morton said by the time officers arrived, the suspects had already fled. He estimated the RCMP got to the scene within about five minutes of the actual occurrence. He said on Wednesday morning the investigation into the incident was still ongoing.
ìAll we can say at this point is that there were two subjects wearing balaclavas, each carrying a firearm. There was a variety of (drugs) taken, with a focus on oxycontin,î he said.
Shortly after 6 p.m. a staff member from All Your Pets said a man came into the store from across the street and asked to make a telephone call. The woman said the man was shaking, but she said he didn't elaborate on his request to use the telephone.
The Forensic Identification Section attended the scene, examining various pieces of evidence, which Morton said he couldn't disclose. Generally, the Forensic Identification Section looks for and examines items such as tire marks, vehicle marks, footprints, as well as gathering up any items that may have been left at the scene.
ìThey do the detailed crime scene exam for us,î Morton said.
The General Investigation Section was also consulted. The Police Dog Service was also used at the scene to do tracking.
ìWe've collected a number of items of evidence at this point and we're going to continue doing inquiries amongst the community. There's surveillance videos and things like that from the entire community that we'll be looking at. We're not restricting it to an immediate area. We've put pieces together from all over,î Morton said, noting he couldn't discuss the specifics of any evidence the RCMP has or is lacking.
Police believe there were no customers in the store at the time of the incident. Nobody was injured in the robbery.
Local management from Rexall declined comment, saying the matter was under investigation by the police. Corporate communications echoed that stance.
ìUnfortunately, since the robbery is under investigation, we don't provide any comment,î said Donna Araujo, a company spokesperson. ìEveryone in the store was a little shook up but they seem to be doing well.î
Araujo added that in situations such as this, counselling services would be made available to any employees that request it.
ìWe do make that available to them through our human resources,î she said.
