Congress Approves New Tool To Combat Violent Prescription Drug Robberies
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A new tool approved by Congress looks to combat violent prescription drug robberies across the city.
Senator Chuck Schumer announced Friday the creation of a new database that will be used to help determine trends and patterns of prescription drug-related crimes.
The database will help law enforcement agencies identify pharmacy security gaps and analyze emerging crime patterns.
"Law enforcement's able to map crime patterns," said Chauncey Parker, the director of New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas. "They can say, 'I want to look at all robberies of oxycodone in the last 90 days in the New York metropolitan, and you press a button and a map shows up."
"It will look for specifics on what types of crimes are being committed, who's committing them, how they are being committed, and find patterns," Schumer said. "Then, you can send police officers to those areas."
The database will help officials target resources to high crime areas and determine which prescription drugs are the most sought after.
Schumer's office says oxycodone and hydrocodone products dominated the targeted pills in 2012.