Suncoast: Pharmacy bandit is charged after admitting to stealing prescription meds and other items from more than half a dozen pharmacies

 

 

 

Suncoast: Pharmacy bandit is charged after admitting to stealing prescription meds and other items from more than half a dozen pharmacies

 

 

MCSO

Case Number: 2020-029528

Incident Type: BURGLARY WITH SIGNIFICANT LOSSBusiness/Subdivision: WINN-DIXIE

Location: 1010 53rd Ave E, Bradenton, FL Zone: W30

Victim(s): Winn-DixieRace/Sex: Victim(s) D.O.B:

Suspect(s): Thomas M. O’Brien Race/Sex:W/M Suspect(s) D.O.B: 07/02/73

Robby G. AlvarinoW/M09/23/80

 

At around 12:30 am on 11/26/2020 (Thanksgiving Day) deputies responded to the Winn Dixie on 53rd Ave East after the night manager heard a suspicious noise. After checking the store, deputies were able to determine a burglary had just occurred in the Pharmacy. Security cameras captured a suspect who walking around the store before heading to the front. Once at the front of the store he filled a large trash bag with multiple cartons of cigarettes and then made this way to the pharmacy, where he used a hammer and pry tool to breach the pharmacy door. Once in the pharmacy he casually filled the remainder of the large trash back with various medications, then exited through an emergency door. It was learned that the suspect entered the store around 9:30 pm, while the store was still open on 11/25/20 and hid in a cooler until there were no longer any employees around.

 

After gathering leads, detectives developed Thomas O’Brien as a suspect and discovered that he was staying at the Magnusson Hotel on US 41 in Bradenton. On 12/19/20 Thomas and another suspect, later identified as Robby Alvarino were seen casing and then attempting to burglarize Advance Care Pharmacy in Ellenton. Both suspects were later arrested and charged with Attempted Burglary for that case.

Detectives obtained evidence from the hotel room, and vehicle used by O’Brien, to include clothes matching those worn by the suspect, a cell phone tied to the Winn-Dixie burglary, tools and numerous prescription narcotics from other burglaries.

 

On 12/23/20 O’Brien admitted to burglarizing 6 pharmacies in MCSO’s jurisdiction and one attempted pharmacy burglary. He also admitted to pharmacy burglaries in Bradenton Police jurisdiction and Palmetto Police jurisdiction.

 

Thomas O’Brien is now charged with 4 additional counts of Burglary and one attempted burglary. Robby Alvarino remains a suspect in those additional cases. He could face more charges as the investigation continues.