Pharmacist thrown to the ground, assaulted during robbery
Fora Rahmati is stepping up her pharmacy's security system following a terrifying robbery last week.
The Newmarket pharmacist says she was closing for the night when she was assaulted and thrown to the ground by two men who demanded drugs and cash.
"He was bent on me, yelling, "Where is your safe? Where is your narcotics?" she recalled. "They walked me toward the till. I opened the till, they took the money, and they fled."
The suspects, dressed in black, were in and out within minutes.
Jen Belcher with the Ontario Pharmacists Association says there are reports of these violent, brazen pharmacy robberies happening across the province.
"We've seen four times previous levels as per 2021 - that would be in the Toronto area," she noted.
"Pharmacy robberies apparently in our region, York Region is up about 230 per cent compared to last year," Rahmati said.
She added the police were able to get a licence plate for the suspect vehicle but said it was likely stolen.
"This is frightening, so you always think I'm the next person that is getting that gun to her head. It could be me," she said.
Police seek witnesses who may have noticed anything unusual at the Optimum Pharmacy on Davis Drive pharmacy on Nov. 28.
"Often these are happening when businesses are open, so we do suspect there might be people in the parking lots," said York Regional Police Const. Laura Nicolle. "We're encouraging them to contact us."
The Ontario Pharmacy Association said it's working with the College of Pharmacists to deter would-be thieves, including considering making time-delayed safes mandatory.
The association says the opioid crisis has added to the rise in robberies. Pharmacists like Rahmati said they need more protection.
"I don't think I'll be ever able to work by myself at my own pharmacy because of that fear, because of that trauma," she concluded.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Legitimately flabbergasting': MP raises concerns over government's quarantine hotel spending
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner is raising concerns over the federal government's spending on so-called COVID-19 quarantine hotels, calling the total spent on a Calgary-area hotel in 2022 'legitimately flabbergasting.'

Man spends 24 hours in Toronto Denny's after losing bet, raises almost $6K for charity
At first, Juan Delgado agreed to spend 24 hours inside a Dundas St. Denny’s as a consequence of losing in his fantasy football league.
Discovery in Canadian lab could help laptop, phone and car batteries last longer
A chance discovery in a Canadian laboratory could help extend the life of laptop, phone and electric car batteries.
Loblaw ends No Name price freeze, vows 'flat' pricing 'wherever possible'
Loblaw will not be extending its price freeze on No Name brand products, but vows to keep the yellow label product-pricing flat 'wherever possible.'
Woman detained in Syria says Ottawa is forcing her to make agonizing choice in order to get her kids to Canada
A woman held in a detention camp in Syria, along with her three Canadian children, says the federal government is forcing her to make an agonizing choice: relinquish custody of her kids so they can be repatriated to Canada, or keep them in the camp where the conditions are dire. Her children are eligible for repatriation but she is not a Canadian citizen.
Banff National Park cave creature exists 'no where else': Parks Canada
A cave in Banff National Park has been recognized as a globally significant location thanks to a tiny creature found inside.
Jeopardy! dedicates entire category to Ontario but one question stumps every contestant
Jeopardy! turned the spotlight on Ontario on Monday night with a category entirely dedicated to the province. One question stumped every contestant.
B.C. man facing extradition to U.S. for alleged sex crimes against stepdaughter
A Vancouver Island man is awaiting possible extradition to the United States on charges of sexual assault against his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Toronto student’s algorithm helps detect radio signals emitting from 5 distant stars
A new artificial intelligence algorithm created by a Toronto student is helping researchers search the stars for signs of life.