2 Montclair Pharmacies Burglarized, Front Doors Smashed: Police

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Two pharmacies in Montclair were recently burglarized and found with their front doors smashed, authorities announced Tuesday.

The Montclair Police Department released the following details about each burglary:

MONTCLAIR PHARMACY

Officers responded to the Montclair Pharmacy at Valley Road and Laurel Place at 3:18 a.m. on Friday after getting a report about an activated alarm.

The first officer at the scene found the front door of the business completely shattered and boxes rummaged through near the entrance.

The suspects fled the scene before police arrived.

Surveillance video shows two men walk up to the front door on Valley Road at 3:14 a.m. One is carrying what appears to be a pipe wrench. The suspects peer through the front door, then the man with the wrench swings it, smashing the front door. The men then enter the building and run towards the back doorway. They open a cabinet and grab several boxes of items, make their way back to the front of the pharmacy and circle back to the north side of the building – then exit out the smashed front door at 3:15 a.m.

The suspects apparently began running southbound, but it is unknown if they entered a vehicle, police said.

Authorities said the man with the pipe wrench was wearing a black jacket, black sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, black ski mask, green or yellow gloves, white/gray new balance sneakers, and white Nike socks.

The second suspect was wearing a black jacket, black sweatshirt, black sweatpants with white stripes down the side, black ski mask, white gloves, and black sneakers. He was holding a black bag.

GROVE PHARMACY

Another burglary took place Sunday at Grove Pharmacy on Grove Street, police said.

A bystander told officers that he saw three people exiting the pharmacy through a shattered front door. They fled north on Grove Street, he said.

Police found large rocks inside the store that were used to break in, authorities said.

The suspects stole Xanax, Tramadol and Tylenol with codeine from the pharmacy, police said.

One suspect was wearing a bright colored orange or yellow jacket. The other two were wearing all black and were carrying duffle bags, police said.

Authorities said anyone with information about either incident can contact Det. Garth Guthrie at (973) 509-4712.

RELATED >> Crime In Montclair: See How Town Compares To State, US Levels

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com