Dearborn and Dearborn Heights police are stepping up their presence around local pharmacies following a series of break-ins targeting the weight loss medication Ozempic. According to WXYZ, thieves struck Telegraph Pharmacy in Dearborn, making off with $15,000 worth of the drug; surveillance footage captured at least four individuals who broke into the pharmacy and then quickly fled the scene, loaded with boxes of merchandise.
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shain stating, "This is the first time I've seen weight loss drugs actually targeted for theft," as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
In an interview with mLIVE, authorities expressed surprise that the diabetes drug is now being targeted due to its use for weight loss.
Martize Roberson, a suspect in the theft at Telegraph Pharmacy, was caught thanks to a GPS tether he was wearing from previous felonies, explained Dearborn Police Lieutenant Mike York. The group then tried to steal from Superior Care Pharmacy in Dearborn Heights, but their plan was stopped by the pharmacy's advanced security system, according to Dearborn Heights Police Director Paul Vanderplow.
The demand for Ozempic has grown because it treats type 2 diabetes and is also used for weight loss, creating a black market due to shortages and high demand. Paul Vanderplow explained, "It comes down to supply and demand. People are utilizing this drug to stay healthy, to get fit… and it’s become a high demand item and we ... you have high demand and low supply, you have ingredients for a black or grey market," Dr. Blake Movitz, a bariatric surgeon, cautioned against using black-market drugs due to potential side effects and recommended consulting with professionals, as he shared in an interview with WXYZ.
