by NYCNews | 2026-01-15 20:19:29+00:00
By Staff Reporter
Queens Voice
January 15, 2026

NEW YORK CITY — A crew of so-called “drugstore cowboys” is wanted by the NYPD after a brazen string of early-morning pharmacy burglaries across Queens and the Bronx that netted nearly $25,000 in cash and large quantities of prescription medications, police said.

According to the NYPD, the suspects are believed to be responsible for five pharmacy break-ins spanning multiple precincts, targeting drugstores in Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Kew Gardens Hills, and the Westchester Square section of the Bronx. The burglaries occurred on December 20 and December 30, 2025, and investigators say the incidents follow a clear pattern.

Police say the suspects worked in coordinated teams, using forced entry by smashing front doors, then quickly grabbing cash and prescription pills before fleeing in waiting vehicles. Surveillance images released by the NYPD show the suspects arriving and escaping in either a black Infiniti sedan or a white Mercedes SUV, depending on the date.

The first three burglaries unfolded within a 45-minute window in Queens on December 20, raising red flags for detectives almost immediately.

Three Queens Drugstores Hit in Under an Hour

The first incident was reported just before dawn at a pharmacy located at 42-62 Kissena Boulevard in the confines of the 109th Precinct. Police say three suspects forced their way inside around 6 a.m., stealing approximately $9,800 in cash along with prescription medications, before fleeing with a fourth accomplice in a black Infiniti.

Just 10 minutes later, another pharmacy—only doors away at 42-60 Kissena Boulevard—was hit in a similar fashion. This time, two suspects entered the store, stealing $3,800 and prescription pills, before jumping back into the same black Infiniti occupied by two additional individuals.

About 35 minutes after that, a third pharmacy was targeted at 177-05 Union Turnpike in the 107th Precinct. Police say three suspects broke the front door, made off with $300 in cash, a safe, and various prescription medications, and again fled in a black Infiniti.

Bronx and Queens Hit Again Days Later

Ten days later, the crew allegedly struck again—this time using a different vehicle.

On December 30 at approximately 4:54 a.m., two suspects forced entry into a pharmacy at 1967 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx’s 43rd Precinct. While no cash amount was specified, police say the suspects stole prescription medications before fleeing with a third accomplice in a white Mercedes SUV.

Less than an hour later, another pharmacy was burglarized back in Queens at 45-12 Parsons Boulevard, once again within the 109th Precinct. In that incident, police say $11,000 in cash and prescription pills were taken before the suspects fled in the same white Mercedes SUV.

NYPD Seeks Public’s Help Identifying Suspects

Investigators believe all five incidents are connected and are now asking for the public’s help identifying the suspects seen in released surveillance footage.

“These individuals are targeting pharmacies for both cash and controlled prescription drugs,” an NYPD spokesperson said, noting the ongoing concern over stolen medications being resold illegally.

Anyone with information about the suspects, the vehicles involved, or the burglaries themselves is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and rewards may be available.

Why These Pharmacy Burglaries Matter

Pharmacy burglaries involving prescription drugs pose a serious public safety risk. Stolen medications—especially opioids and other controlled substances—often end up on the black market, fueling addiction and illegal distribution.

As detectives continue piecing together this Queens and Bronx pharmacy burglary spree, police say additional arrests are possible and more surveillance footage may be released.