Armed Robber Steals Oxycodone from Encino Pharmacy

ENCINO, CA - A gunman robbed oxycodone from an Encino pharmacy near a children's outpatient clinic Thursday, prompting some people to lock themselves in a back room while the crime occurred.

No one was injured during the robbery, which occurred about 6:25 p.m. in the 5300 block of Balboa Boulevard, near Magnolia Boulevard, according to Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.

Madison did not name the pharmacy, but a videographer at the scene identified it as West Valley Pharmacy, which is part of the same complex as the Encino Outpatient Center satellite location of Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The suspect had a handgun and fled in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of oxycodone, Madison said.

An unknown number of people locked themselves in a back room during the robbery, he said.

The gunman was described as 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds.

He had a black bandana covering his face and was wearing a zipped up blue hooded sweatshirt, Madison said.

Oxycodone is a powerful and addictive opioid painkiller marketed under the trade name Oxycontin, among others.

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock