On Wednesday, a pharmaceutical distributor in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, suffered a significant theft with criminals making off with over R$ 572,000 in oncology treatment drugs and antibiotics. The incident occurred in the northern part of the city, with the company located on Rua Segundino Gomes in the Parque Industrial Tanquinho. Security camera footage captured the crime, showing at least three hooded individuals arriving in a van around 4 AM and breaking into the premises.

The owner of the distributor reported the break-in, noting that they discovered the damage upon arriving at the site in the morning, including forced entry through the main gate and tampering of a refrigerated unit designed for storing medications. Security footage revealed that the thieves took approximately ten minutes to execute their heist. In the wake of this alarming incident, the Civil Police have initiated an investigation to apprehend the culprits, but as of the time of this report, no arrests had been made.

The implications of this theft are serious, particularly given the critical nature of the medications stolen, which include treatments for cancer and hemotherapy. Such a loss not only impacts the business financially but also poses potential risks for patients requiring these essential drugs. The rising trend of thefts targeting pharmaceutical companies raises concerns regarding security measures within this industry and the effects of crime on public health services.