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Thieves fumble CVS cough syrup robbery

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.,None — Lawrenceville police need help identifying two robbers who stormed a local pharmacy for narcotic cough syrup.

The robbery happened at a CVS pharmacy on Pike Street on Dec. 7. Police said it was a brazen undertaking.

"Unlike most robbers, the two thieves that came here had nothing covering their faces,"
Lawrenceville police Detective Tim Ashley told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh.

He said the thieves observed other customers and waited for the right opportunity to run through the pharmacy door and grab two bottles of codeine cough syrup. The cough syrup, mixed with Sprite, has been popularized by hip hop music, often referred to as Purple Drank. It appeared they knew exactly where to find it.

"They've either been there before or another CVS pharmacies before," Ashley said, showing Kavanaugh surveillance footage.

The thieves attempted to make a quick escape, but the doors jammed. In the process of prying them open, they dropped the bottles and one of the suspects left behind a blue Kansas City hat.

Police hope someone will recognize the thieves from the surveillance footage. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lawrenceville police.