At a Glance
- Two men and a 17-year-old allegedly robbed a Pennsylvania pharmacy delivery driver of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs valued at $16,000.
- The trio traveled 80 miles from New York City and had reportedly scoped out the delivery schedule with suspicious calls and emails days earlier.
- Police recovered the stolen medications-Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Trulicity-after pulling over a gold Toyota minutes later.
- Why it matters: High-priced weight-loss drugs are now targets for organized theft, prompting pharmacies to overhaul security protocols.
A Pennsylvania pharmacy delivery turned violent last week when three suspects allegedly ambushed a driver outside Smart Choice Pharmacy in Bensalem, making off with two boxes of coveted GLP-1 weight-loss medications worth about $16,000.
According to News Of Los Angeles, the robbery unfolded shortly after the driver arrived on January 15. Investigators say the suspects-41-year-old Joshua Dupree of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania; 21-year-old Jahnoi Dawkins of Albany, New York; and a 17-year-old from New York City-physically assaulted the driver, seized the drugs, and sped away in a gold Toyota.
The car was stopped roughly two miles away after local police broadcast the description. The delivery driver identified all three suspects, police reported.
Planned Attack
Bensalem Public Safety Director Bill McVey told 6ABC the driver was thrown to the ground but avoided serious injury. Investigators later learned the heist was allegedly premeditated:
- The suspects had traveled from New York City, about 80 miles away.
- Pharmacy staff told police they received suspicious phone calls and emails in the days leading up to the delivery requesting information about the shipment.
- Surveillance and witness footage captured the Toyota nearly striking a bystander who tried to record the getaway.
The stolen medications included popular GLP-1 brands:
| Drug | Typical Monthly Cost (uninsured) |
|---|---|
| Mounjaro | ~$1,000 |
| Ozempic | ~$1,000 |
| Trulicity | ~$1,000 |
Pharmacist Jigar Patel told CBS Philadelphia the high price tag makes the drugs attractive to thieves. “Not everyone can get their hands on it,” he said. “These are $1,000 drugs. For anyone that’s not easily able to pay for it, this becomes an alternate route.”
Charges and Aftermath
All three suspects face multiple counts:
- Robbery
- Theft
- Receiving stolen property
- Simple assault
Police returned the recovered medications to Smart Choice Pharmacy. McVey said the pharmacy has already adjusted its delivery procedures and urged other pharmacies to report unusual inquiries about shipment schedules.
“If someone’s making phone calls asking when deliveries are coming, possibly notify your police department,” McVey told CBS Philadelphia. “Make sure the parking lot’s clear before you’re accepting $16,000 worth of product or more.”
Patel added that staff had no warning before the robbery. “Thank God no gunshots or anything like that were involved,” he told 6ABC. “I hope it never ever happens again.”
Key Takeaways
- GLP-1 medications, already in short supply, are now theft targets because of high retail prices.
- Pharmacies are tightening security around deliveries, including verifying caller identity and monitoring parking lots.
- Police recommend immediate reporting of suspicious delivery-related inquiries to local authorities.
