In the wake of several robberies of pharmacies in the area, Senator Charles Schumer is urging Congress to pass a bill calling for tougher penalties.

The Safe Doses Act, which was waiting for a Senate vote this weekend, would increase punishments for robbing drug stores and give police more tools to crack down on illegal prescription drug rings.

Just last week, two man held up an East Harlem pharmacy looking for pain medication.

One of those men remains on the loose but the other was shot and killed immediately after the robbery, as he ran from police.

Last year, a man shot and killed four people at a Long Island pharmacy when he went in to rob the store for pills.