METROPOLIS, Ill. - Police say prescription medication thefts are on the rise. The most recent theft took place at the Twin Oaks Metropolis, Ill. assisted living facility where one of the employees is accused of stealing from the very people she was hired to protect.
Mable Harris of Brookport was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, residential burglary, and aggravated battery. She allegedly took more than 20 Xanax tablets and several Lortab pills from two different apartments.
The victims were both in their 90's. They can't understand why Harris would put their health at risk. Employees are also upset. "I was furious. I was like how could someone do that? How could someone put a tenants life in danger?" said Twin Oaks Metropolis Administrator, Melissa Fowler.
Fowler noticed the problem a week ago when aspirin pills were found in place or Lortab pills. Harris worked the night shift at the front desk. She apparently used business keys to get inside apartments and unlock medicine boxes to steal the prescription drugs inside.
Employees were quick to replace the prescription medications and easily traced the problem to Harris' shift. Police stopped Harris at a traffic stop where they found 11 Xanax tablets in her pocket. She said she did not have a prescription for the drugs.
Police are concerned, "It's a growing problem everywhere across the United States not just in our community, but everywhere," said Metropolis Police Detective, Michael Kennedy. He said he did not investigate a single prescription pill theft last year. He has already investigated five this year. Detectives say the combined easy money from selling prescription drugs to sell on the black market and the bad economy are pushing thieves to steal more prescription medications.
The administrator at Twin Oaks Metropolis says her guard is up and vows to prevent any more prescription drug thefts to keep her residence safe. "They don't have to worry about a thing that we will do everything we can to take the best care of them," said Fowler.
Harris is no longer allowed back at the Twin Oaks Metropolis facility. It's believed she was stealing the prescription drugs because just one pill can sell for $5 on the street.
Sunday, Nov 15 at 10:45 AM Deena Harris wrote ...
I have been to this facility several times, this is not a nursing home but an extremely nice upscale living arrangement. These people have their owe apartment and most even drive a car. They clean their own apartments. There are meals served every day or they may cook their own in their own kitchen. These residents must be able to care for themselves or they cannot live there. The way I see it, this woman went into a person's home and stole their medication. This is the same as if someone c
32143614 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Nov 9 at 6:41 AM Reader wrote ...
These places pay poor wages for all that is expected of the workers. What she did was wrong I agree but if the places that want good dependable help to take care of our elderly they should be forced to pay a good wage then some of these problems would be avoided from the start.
31822591 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Nov 8 at 10:16 AM Someone wrote ...
I have worked in these kinds of facilities and I think its pathetic that she did that. Some of these people are depressed,in pain, etc and they need these medications. It's ridiculous that the world is coming to this...
31786279 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Nov 8 at 6:03 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Anyone who would steal from the elderly and disabled should be locked up and the key thrown away!
31778559 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Sunday, Nov 8 at 3:28 AM scott67 wrote ...
nobody works 70 hours weekly and gets paid 40, these people make min wage but are compensated, no cna or cma is salary at these assisted living places or nursing homes, I do agree that lortab and xanax are not needed drugs but are taken as prn or as needed, but she still broke the law, if she took the drugs, she was probably stealing other things as well.
31776321 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 7 at 10:10 PM Anonymous wrote ...
they should look into the payroll set up if she was stealing to sell thin maybe she as on salery and was made to work 70 hr on a 40hr salery that would make her making less than mimum wage an hr maby she thought she was just getting some back i know a lot of rest homes in kentucky do that
31770031 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 7 at 8:44 PM anonymous wrote ...
Just the fact that she was stealing the drugs that were prescribed to patients of the facility make her a felon. And these patients obviously need the medication for the conditions they have. Stealing is still against the law.
31767406 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 7 at 6:39 AM Reader wrote ...
What happened is a bad thing I will agree but the girl did not put anyone's life in danger by taking a mild pain killer or nerve pill from them. It's not like taking a heart or breathing medication where that could have caused an immediate health problem. I do not understand why the medication itself was considered life threatening without it.
31740159 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Nov 7 at 6:28 AM Ziegler wrote ...
I am wondering why an assisted living facility needs to have Xanax on hand.
31739949 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Friday, Nov 6 at 8:19 PM Anonymous wrote ...
people like to talk about drunks and pot smokers, crackheads & meth users,,, but I can tell you from a lifetime of experience having to deal with all sorts,,, there are very few worse things to have around than a pill-head. They are every bit as much criminal, addicted, and out-of-control as ANY other user, and in many cases even more so.
31728806 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Add a comment
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