Fake Bomb Used to Steal Oxycodone from Rite Aid Pharmacy

A Rite Aid pharmacy was robbed of $72,000 worth of oxycodone after a man threatened to activate a bomb at the pharmacy counter.

Suspect Kevin Groesser, 54, allegedly walked into the pharmacy in Bristol, New Hampshire, wearing a bandanna to disguise his face and carrying a box and a bag, which he told the pharmacist was a bomb.

Using this threat, Groesser obtained about 900 oxycodone tablets, which police estimated to be at a street value of $72,000.

The pharmacist recognized the man as a regular customer, and police were able to make an ID through the store’s surveillance video, WMUR9 reported.

Police Chief Michael Lewis told the news station that the box Groesser carried actually held nails and screws.

Both Grosser and his alleged accomplice, Patrick Flood, who helped Grosser drive away with the oxycodone, were tracked down shortly after the incident on August 30, 2015. Groesser was arrested 3 hours after the theft, police said.

“The suspects in this case did give us some information to recover some of [the drugs], but they also stated they had given them to other people throughout the community in different counties,” Lt. Timothy Woodward told WMUR9.

Flood also tried to flush some tablets down the toilet of the holding cell, police said.

Groesser asked that the court reduce his bail because he has “never really been in trouble before” and has lived in the area for decades, alleging that he is not a flight risk.

The 2 men, who are still being held on bail, will be back in court next month, WMUR9 reported.