Twitter Provides New Way to Fight Pharmacy Crime

STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Purdue Pharma L.P. announces the launch of its new pharmacy crime prevention tool: Twitter.com/rxpatrol. Pharmacy staff, law enforcement officials and loss prevention personnel can follow updates about pharmacy robberies, burglaries and potential threats in their area and nationwide. The tweets provide safety and security tips for pharmacy staff that may help them better protect customers and their businesses. Followers also receive notices for reward offers that are funded through Purdue's partnership with CrimeStoppers and other local anti-crime organizations.

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The RxPATROL Program tracks and analyzes reports of pharmacy crime across the United States and posts important crime related information on its web site: www.rxpatrol.org. The program also issues alerts and updates via email to registered users in the pharmacy and law enforcement communities.  However, since many pharmacists do not have Internet access during work hours, but do have access to cell phones, RxPATROL® is now using Twitter to instantly deliver pharmacy crime updates and tips to followers via their cell phones. RxPATROL's Twitter followers receive timely pharmacy crime information that is often not reported by the media.

"Pharmacy crime is a problem in many communities," said RxPATROL Program Coordinator, Captain Richard Conklin. "RxPATROL is using new communication vehicles to help pharmacy staff and law enforcement fight pharmacy crime."

Conklin monitors daily pharmacy crime reports from police departments across the United States and posts important crime related information. RxPATROL Twitter can provide followers with timely pharmacy crime information, giving them access to information that is often not reported by the media.

The tweets provide specific information on robberies and burglaries, including the exact location of the incident, description of the suspect and any pertinent information that could lead to the capture of a suspect. All information is verified with the local law enforcement before it is released. All tweets direct followers to the incident number in the RxPATROL database so that they easily may find additional information, including pictures and video of suspects.

Purdue Pharma L.P. developed RxPATROL (Rx Pattern Analysis Tracking Robberies &

Other Losses) in 2003 as a collaborative effort between industry, pharmacists and law enforcement to collect, collate, analyze and disseminate information on pharmacy theft. In 2005, Purdue partnered with Crime Stoppers and affiliated local anti-crime programs throughout the country to offer rewards for information that can lead to the arrest of pharmacy robbery suspects. Please visit www.rxpatrol.org for more information

Purdue Pharma L.P. and its associated U.S. companies are privately-held pharmaceutical companies known for pioneering research on persistent pain. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Purdue is engaged in the research, development, production, and distribution of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines and hospital products. Additional information about Purdue can be found at www.purduepharma.com.

SOURCE Purdue Pharma L.P.