National Association of Chain Drug Stores helps pharmacies create incident database

By Elizabeth Beaulieu

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The National Association of Chain Drug Stores launches its Retail Alert Network on July 1 in an attempt to thwart external theft, increase information sharing with law enforcement agencies and develop best practices.

Here’s how it will work: Stores will report incidents online or by phoning a call center, and as a result, an alert is e-mailed or faxed to network members in a fixed radius (The name and location of the store reporting an incident is never revealed).

“When a retailer receives an alert, he can then make decisions about what to do to enhance security measures in his store,” said Steve Sperlowski, vice president of industry affairs for NACDS.

The idea for RAN was developed after chain drug stores became frustrated with the lack of information available about robberies, particularly those involving controlled substances.

The association plans to take the information it collects and get it into the hands of law enforcement agencies, as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency, so they can more actively investigate organized retail theft.

Judy Hughes, director of loss prevention for the Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS, said CVS stores, particularly those in the Boston area, have been impacted by OxyContin robberies in the past two years, but there has been a “huge gap” in support from law enforcement agencies.

“It’s not that law enforcement hasn’t responded, but this will provide them with a more holistic view,” she said.

The Retail Alert Network also aims to collect information on best practices, such as the viability of electronic article surveillance or digital video recorders, Sperlowski said.

In creating the network, NACDS points to a recent study by the Loss Prevention Research Council that shows one way to fight organized retail theft is to develop a database that contains collective retail theft information.

There are about 10,000 pharmacies signed up with RAN, and NACDS is currently trying to lure other retailers and associations to participate. For now, the network is free to members of NACDS, but the association expects to develop a fee-based system for non-NACDS members to participate.

RAN was developed by NACDS, chaindrugstore.net and Cap Index.