Memphis residents are on edge following a string of armed robberies targeting Walgreens stores across the city. The Memphis Police Department is actively seeking information regarding the incidents, which began on December 11, 2024, and continued into the new year. The Memphis Police Department est.1827 Facebook page detailed the five robberies, noting that the suspects were armed and dangerous, making off with various amounts of cash from each location.
During the earliest reported robbery, which occurred at the Walgreens located at 1863 Union Avenue, surveillance footage captured two males brandishing firearms, intimidating the staff, and fleeing with approximately $300. A similar tactic was used at three other Walgreens stores, with the suspects utilizing a combination of handguns and rifles to assert control over the employees. A social media post by the Memphis Police Department indicates that the series of robberies has been carried out by at least three individuals, including an unknown driver, although no arrests have yet to be made.
The most recent incident took place on January 3, at the Walgreens on 4154 Elvis Presley Boulevard. A lone male, according to the police report, entered the store armed with a black handgun equipped with a laser and absconded with approximately $750. Descriptions of the suspects have been released, including one suspect being an average build Black male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and a black Nike facemask, and another being a thin Black male with black and white shoes, and a black ski mask. The Memphis Police Department has encouraged the public to come forward with any relevant information, stressing anonymity and even the possibility of a cash reward for tips leading to an arrest, facilitated through the Crime Stoppers platform.
Community concern has grown as the frequency of these robberies appears to have escalated, with each event described as brazen in its execution. The police department's release emphasized the violent nature of these crimes and the direct threat they pose to employees and potentially customers. "Suspect #1 was an average build Black male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and a black Nike facemask. He was armed with an AR-style rifle," stated the Memphis Police Department's report on the Walgreens robberies. Local citizens have been encouraged to closely review wanted posters and safely share any information using the police department’s variety of anonymous tip services, including a dedicated mobile app, "P3 Tips."
The string of robberies at Walgreens pharmacies have not only left employees shaken but have also heightened anxieties among residents in the affected areas. The Memphis Police Department stresses the importance of community vigilance and cooperation as they continue to actively investigate the events in hope to quickly apprehend those responsible.
