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Pharmacy Technician Charged with Felony Theft


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CVS Pharmacy in Park Forest. (Photo: Wendy Heise)

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— A pharmacy technician at CVS Pharmacy in Park Forest was arrested and charged with felony theft last week.

On Wednesday, May 21, Officer Sweitzer was dispatched to CVS Pharmacy, 1 Main Street, to investigate a report of theft. The officer met with Roger Ribbke, a regional loss prevention manager for CVS Pharmacy who related that his office had received an anonymous tip saying they needed to watch Genesis Ayala, a pharmacy technician at the store, because she was allegedly stealing hydrocodone pills and selling them, according to police.

Ribbke said he learned, when he began the investigation, the CVS Pharmacy in Park Forest had 32 bottles of hydrocodone pills missing from its inventory, unaccounted for. Each bottle contained 100 pills of hydrocodone and was valued at $62.99, according to police. Ribbke told police he spoke with Ayala, who allegedly admitted to the theft and signed a CVS statement form. Ribbke related that the total theft amounted to $2015.68, and he wished to sign theft complaints against Ayala on behalf of CVS Pharmacy.

Officer Sweitzer placed Ayala under arrest and transported her to the Park Forest Police Department.

Police say Ayala signed a waiver and agreed to speak with Officer Sweitzer. She allegedly told police that she was asked by a high school friend if she could get hydrocodone pills from her job as a pharmacy technician for extra money. She stated that she needed extra money and CVS had recently cut her full-time job down to 21 hours per week, according to police. She allegedly told police that in early January, 2008, she took 60 loose hydrocodone pills and sold them to her friend for $70 or $80. According to her statement, she allegedly took one full bottle containing 100 pills every week after that.

Genesis Ayala, 20, 1036 Lowe, Chicago Heights, was arrested and charged with one count of felony theft.


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