A man stole oxycodone Monday morning at a
Walgreens on Cottage Grove Road in Madison.

The suspect was described as a 30- to 35-year old white male, 5-foot-8, with heavy build, facial
stubble. He was wearing blue jeans, black shoes, black stocking cap and a gray jacket with
black and orange trim, according to a Madison Police Department statement.

A similar theft also occurred last Saturday at a Walgreens on East Washington
Avenue, the statement said.

A man was arrested last week in connection to some of the oxycodone thefts that
have occurred in Madison, but MPD is not aware of any connection between him
and the suspects of the thefts that occurred last weekend, according to MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain.

The City of Madison has seen a spike in oxycodone thefts since last November,
DeSpain said.

DeSpain attributes the spike of oxycodone thefts to the epidemic of people who are
addicted to opiates.

“This is a national problem, and it’s one that we’re dealing with right here,” DeSpain
said.

The city of Madison has been making an effort that targets six strategic
areas in effort to lower the current status of drug poisoning, according to
safercommunity.net.

In addition to measures taken by the city of Madison, each Madison police district
has a community policing team, and it is the responsibility of this team, if they are
aware of a situation, to alert and work with community members, Ald. Joe Clausius,
District 17, said.

The thefts will continue to be an ongoing issue as long as people are addicted, as they will do what it takes to get their hands on the drug, DeSpain said. MPD is dealing with it as
best as they can and are working in conjunction with the law enforcement and
pharmacies as well, he said.