Pain Pill Pillager Caught on Camera

Thousands of Oxycontin pills are now on the street and Ringgold police hope the surveillance video they released to NewsChannel 9 today will help them find the person responsible.

The crime happened at the Walgreen's off of Alabama Highway Monday at 7:39 PM.

You can see on the video, a white man, probably in his 20's, who appears to be about 5'6" dressed and acting like a regular customer. Then, he picks up a bag, police say he'd stashed earlier that day while he was casing the place. A moment later, you see him pull a gun from out of the waistband of his pants, and take off toward the pharmacy. In one leap, the thief is over the counter.

Detectives say what you can't see on camera is the man forcing employees to get down on the ground. He then reportedly makes the pharmacist open a locked cabinet where they keep the narcotics. The robber cleans out the entire supply of oxycontin and hops back over the counter all in less than a minute.

Detective Patrick Mason says at least 20 bottles were stolen. Internet searches show most bottles of oxycontin contain at least 100 pills.

As the thief leaves walks down the aisle, you see him take off the glasses, and just as calm and cool and collected as any other customer, walks out of the store. You even see a woman and small child walk out behind him, with no idea what had just happened.

Witnesses reported seeing the man get into the passenger seat of a red or maroon small SUV driven by a woman. The driver turned south on Alabama Highway.

Based on what detectives saw, they think this man knew exactly what he was looking for and where to find it. They also think he robbed this same pharmacy several months before.

If you have any information on this crime, contact Ringgold Police 706-935-3066