Suspect Responsible for Multiple Oxycontin Robberies
Arrested In Mesa
April 23, 2009
On
Tuesday, the Mesa Police Department arrested 34-year-old Carlos
Steven Krakoff (pictured) after he committed a robbery at the
Walgreens store located at Higley and Southern in Mesa. At
approximately 4:20 p.m., Krakoff entered the Walgreens,
approached the pharmacy counter and demanded Oxycontin and
Xanax. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses,
latex gloves and a surgical mask. After demanding the drugs, he
instructed the pharmacy technician that she had 10 seconds to
comply and began counting down from 10. While waiting for the
prescription drugs, he stood with his hands deep in his pockets.
Fearing that Krakoff may have a weapon, the pharmacist gave him
several pill bottles of medication.
Krakoff then ran from the pharmacy counter, attempting to flee
from the store. While this was occurring, an alert store
employee notified the store manager. They were able to apprehend
Krakoff outside the store and detain him until police arrived.
The suspect and method of this robbery matched the description
of five previous Oxycontin robberies throughout east Mesa.
Krakoff was also driving a blue Volvo, which was described by
witnesses in two of those prior robberies.
During the investigation, Krakoff admitted to detectives that he
committed six robberies at several CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.
This robbery series began in July 2008. During several of the
robberies, Krakoff pointed a handgun at the victims at the
pharmacy counters while demanding Oxycontin and Xanax. He stated
that he has an addiction to the prescription drugs and has been
selling some of the stolen medications. Investigators executed a
search warrant at Krakoff's home where they located several
items of evidence in this case, including a 9mm handgun.