Woman accused of stealing more than 500 weight-loss pills from Kroger in Ann Arbor
A woman is accused of stealing hundreds of weight-loss pills from Kroger on South Maple Road over a period of a couple of weeks in late July and early August while employed at the store's pharmacy, Ann Arbor police said.
Laura Ann Kelly, 31, of Dexter, is charged with embezzling more than $999, but less than $20,000 and larceny in a building, Washtenaw County court records show.
She was arraigned Saturday at the county jail in front of Magistrate Camille Horne and released on a promise to appear in court.
Ann Arbor police Det. Sgt. Brian Jatczak said Kelly is accused of stealing more than 500 pills of phentermine, an appetite suppressant. Loss prevention officials reported to police that the drugs were missing, Jatczak said.
Jatczak said it's unclear why Kelly allegedly stole the drugs.
Kelly is scheduled to return to court Aug. 31.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Faith
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
1st of all, she didn't steal over 500 weight loss pills. It was reported that 500 pills were missing. 2nd of all, it is ignorant to assume that someone could make meth with weight loss pills. That obviously wasn't the point in stealing weight loss pills. You don't know the person who did it, so don't make inaccurate assumptions about them. Thirdly, what weight loss pills were stolen? Was it an actual brand, or was it a form of other medication, that could be used for other purposes?
BhavanaJagat
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 5:42 p.m.
Thank you Tom. Indeed, I do not know all the facts of this case. I read the story as reported. The story does not mention the occupational status of the woman. If she is a Pharmacist, it would be the most relevant piece of information in this story. I am sorry for expressing my views thinking of the person involved could be a Pharmacy Tech. I am glad that you took your time to respond to my comment and helped me to review the same. If she is a Pharmacist, she could be held accountable for her actions. In military practice, the Pharmacy Department inventory is routinely checked by Duty Medical Officer each day apart from periodic audits. The Orderly Medical Officer during the tour of the Hospital, selects two items at random and physically counts the stock on the shelf and compares the numbers with the balance stated in accounting statement. At all medical clinics, the medical officer supervises the work of pharmacy workers and stocks of all costly medicines apart from controlled drugs are visually inspected and counted. In military practice, the drugs are all dispensed free of cost and still we would not permit stealing. If Kroger is selling these products to earn a profit, it would be better to introduce the concept of DISCIPLINE at its Pharmacy.
BhavanaJagat
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:19 p.m.
UNETHICAL LABOR PRACTICE : The story reports a theft at Kroger Pharmacy. However, the story fails to examine the underlying problem at the Pharmacy. Kroger does not provide training or certification, exploits human labor, gives them low wages, and uses them to perform tasks that involves dispensing chemical substances which pose risks to all categories of people. Kroger had no problem to hire and employ this untrained person and dumped this person as if she is a 'hot brick' when they had discovered this problem. I call that as UNFAIR labor practice. Kroger must accept responsibility for its reckless hiring practice, provide this employee drug rehabilitation care and let the Jury decide her culpability in this theft of a chemical substance.
tom
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
I would have to disagree. I believe you need to re-examine all your facts about this situation. Pharmacists are given much training during their schooling involving law, ethics, substance abuse etc. I am not sure of her exact salary but I do know that pharmacists make around $100,000/year, so how are they given low wages??? This person stole from her employer. She made a conscious decision to steal the medication and she is only person that can be blamed. Yes she stole a chemical substance, but a theft is still a theft.
cook1888
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 11:41 a.m.
It is ridiculous to blame Kroger. I think "thou shalt not steal" is a fundamental principle we all know.
BhavanaJagat
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 3:57 p.m.
@Sally xyz : The employee could be a victim in this case. This incident may not come under the purview of Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration. However, I would reason that this case must be reported to the Department of Labor and to the Department of Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration as the problem describes unfair labor practice and violation of safety standards. When an employee is exposed to chemicals at workplace, the Law requires that employee must have access to information about those chemicals and the safe handling procedures. The employee must be trained in the safe handling of those chemicals and the employer is required to maintain proper documentation of that mandatory training. To employ a person to work in a Pharmacy without giving the benefit of proper training will constitute an unfair Labor practice. So, I would request her Supervisor to share with us the training that this employee is provided. If no training has been provided, if no documentation of such training exists, I would not be surprised if a fine is imposed upon Kroger for violation of Labor Law.
BhavanaJagat
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.
I need to correct the name of the Department; the correct name is Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration and is popularly known as OSHA.
Sallyxyz
Fri, Aug 26, 2011 : 9:25 p.m.
Where's the photo? Most articles about crime show a photo of the perp. Why none in this case?
Faith
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 7:53 p.m.
So people like you wouldn't judge her appearance.
Goofus
Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 5:45 a.m.
She must be white. A2Dotcom only shows the black suspects.
BhavanaJagat
Fri, Aug 26, 2011 : 4:03 a.m.
I agree with Nick that this incident reveals the problem of management failure at Kroger. While working in Armed Forces of India and Oman, I had the experience of imparting Drug Abuse Prevention Training Programs. It is the duty of the employer to protect employees who are at the risk of developing drug dependence because of occupational exposure to chemical substances. This problem could affect doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical personnel who may have access to such drugs. We provide the training to ensure that drugs are handled safely and are accounted properly at every time. I have done surprise checks countless numbers of times. Army laso infuses a sense of discipline and employees are highly motivated to take personal responsibility. Kroger does not impart such Drug Abuse Prevention Training to its employees who work in the Pharmacy. I would be surprised if they have a Pharmacy Certification Course or Training. This employee could be an unfortunate victim and I would recommend that she must be provided drug counseling and the Company must accept the responsibility of providing drug rehabilitation care.
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
Seems like a loose operation if hundreds of presumably dangerous pills could be missing for a month or more before anybody noticed.
BhavanaJagat
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
These pills are described as Centrally-acting appetite suppressants. They are amphetamine-like drugs and their use is associated with several risks like drug dependence and addiction Their use in the treatment of obesity poses problems as the possible benefits are outwieghed by the risks involved. Treatment of obesity with drugs is the issue that we need to consider. Occupational exposure to drugs poses problems. Recent reports indicate that nurses using anti-cancer drugs get exposed to the drugs that they administer using intravenous infusions. People working in pharmacies are at risk. I want to know as to how KROGER is protecting its employees who are assigned the task of handling drugs that pose a risk like drug dependence. If I have to train a person in the use of a gun, I will train him in a manner that would prepare him to use the gun in a responsible manner. I want to hear that Kroger is training its employees to handle pills in a responsible manner and the risks of exposure are fully explained to them. The pharmacy techs are not supervised and they should not be allowed to dispense medications that have the potential to cause drug dependence.
Chris 8 - YPSI PRIDE
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 3:54 a.m.
I would suggest ANYONE who has a prescription filled with a controlled substance open the bag at the counter, make sure you are under a surveillance camera and count you pills before you leave the pharmacy counter. Drug addicts come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Whether you realize ir or not either a member of your own family or someone on the same block you live on, or building you live in is abusing prescription drugs. I have controlled substances prescribed to me and I know exactly where the bottles are at all times, and I count them before leaving the pharmacy. It took one experience, and a later newspaper article just like this to find out a full blown drug addict was handling the medicine that is prescribed to me. If you walk away from the counter and do not count the pills it will be a cold day in hell before a pharmacist or anyone working behind the counter will replace any that may be missing. As for the person on line behind you, too bad, they just have to wait. Think about it this way, would you leave the bank window without first counting the money?
RJA
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
How about random drug testing for employees working in pharmacy's? Glad I don't go to that store with my scrips. (other small amounts of pills) could have been taken and the patient not aware. I think when I get a script filled for a month (60 tablets) I will count them. Up until now, I have no idea if there were 58 pills in the bottle or 60. Not saying this happened in this case, but we should all be aware of the correct med and number.
MsCochise
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.
I hope she was over weight and really needed the meds to get back into shape, and not a druggie. If that is the case then just maybe it is worth a week or two in jail. Oh yeah that's right, going to jail is weight loss in itself. (PB&J sandwiches).
John A2
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
Is this diet drug a component of Meth? or can meth be derived from it? I'm not speculating, but lots of these diet pills can be made into Methamphetamine. If one was to check it out, then the report would be much better. Either way she will need some addiction recovery counseling. Because whether or not she is doing Meth or the pills there is a huge problem there.
redwingshero
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 7:43 p.m.
I was thinking that or maybe she would try to flip the weight loss drugs to other people. Either way, sad choice of actions (for the accused, not guilty or innocent).
Jen Eyer
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
Comments were removed for discussing or speculating about the suspect's personal appearance.
Joe Kidd
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
I wonder what that could be?
redwingshero
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
You're absolutley correct. We know nothing about what this woman looks like. There are other reasons one might steal OTC weight loss pills.