Police arrest woman accused in pharmacy robberies

DENVER, N.C. — Police arrested a woman they say tried to hold up six pharmacies stretching from Huntersville to Newton.

Police said the woman used the same method each time, and they were already closing in on her before a Monday night robbery in Conover.

Officers gathered their surveillance photos and created a task force from several departments to solve the crimes. And after Monday’s robbery, they arrested Lorrie Griffin.

“We are tickled to death,” said Chris Kirby, who owns a pharmacy in Conover.

He was so concerned about the robberies he had already arranged to have Conover police talk to his employees about what to do if they were robbed.

“A lot of times when they are hit like that, you'll hear another store hit the next day,” Kirby said.

Police said each time, Griffin went in with a note claiming she had a gun and requesting Oxycodone. The note from Monday night's robbery requested pills in 10, 15 and 30 milligram dosage units, police said.

“And not to call the police,” Asst. Chief Eric Loftin said.

Police said she walked away from the store Monday night, but they had a partial tag number from a truck used in a past robbery.

They suspected the truck belonged to Griffin, so Monday night they went to her Denver home and said they found her getting out of the truck. They said there was so many pills inside that they believe she was selling them.

Officers also charged her 19-year-old daughter, Chandra Griffin, with possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia.

WSOC