QUEENSLAND Police have busted a Sunshine Coast pharmacy bandit who posed as a cop and threatened to arrest staff at Maroochy Waters Pharmacy, if they did not hand over controlled medicines.
Detective Senior Sergeant, Daren Edwards, praised the actions of the pharmacy's employees, who realised something was not right as "it's not normal for police to come and make those types of requests".
"One was able to contact police, and I believe they also took some vision themselves of the offender leaving, so they did a really good job," he said.
Edwards noted that the 36-year-old suspect appeared to have purchased imitation police badges, body armour and a replica gun, online, ABC News reported.
"Obviously some planning had gone into it and it appears that some of those products were able to be sourced over the internet," he said.
The fake copper was intercepted by police shortly after leaving the pharmacy and has been charged with at least five offences, including carrying an exposed weapon in public, impersonating a public officer and stealing.
Police seized a magazine from the replica gun and a knife during the arrest.
The woman is also alleged to have been carrying handcuffs and an extendable baton at the time of her arrest.
Edwards called on all retail workers to remain calm when interacting with would-be robbers to limit the risk of violence.
"You can replace items," he said.
"You can't replace people's bodies."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 13 Apr 21
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 13 Apr 21