Painkiller-peddling thief busted

Police have busted a thief who targeted a man for his painkillers then sold them in Jackson Square.

Investigators say that a 54-year-old man was targeted as he left a pharmacy with his prescription of OxyContin. That is a powerful painkiller that contains oxycodone, which is an opioid drug like morphine, codeine, heroin and methadone.

The thief fled on foot but was later found peddling the pills at the downtown shopping centre. He took off again and was arrested after he ran through several stores. The drugs were found on him.

The man, who turns out to be well-known by police, was arrested and charged with robbery, escaping custody, possession of proceeds of a crime, possession of a controlled substance, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.