INDIANAPOLIS -- The record number of pharmacy robberies in Indianapolis is dropping, but the problem may be moving elsewhere.
154 robberies were reported at pharmacies in Indianapolis in the first five months of 2015.
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Only 12 were reported In the last quarter of the year.
Police credit the dramatic decline to the arrest of 40 people who investigators say were responsible for more than 100 robberies.
"We started aggressively working with our federal partners, making good arrests. And at that time, CVS and Walgreens were targeted exclusively. So we formed some great partnerships with them," said Lt. Craig McCart, Metro Police Robbery.
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The city continues to see a decline in robberies. Just ten in the first 38 days of 2016, compared to 18 during the same time period in 2015.
But investigators say robbers have shifted tactics and are going after pharmacies in large grocery chains and retail stores.
One reason for the shift to the so-called softer targets is that CVS and Walgreens are now hiring off-duty IMPD officers for security.
"We're ready to get ahead of the new trend and we'll work closely with all these chains as well, the Krogers, the Marshes and the Meijers and do the same things we did before," said McCart.
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