Police say that two suspects have knocked off eight Duane Reades throughout NYC, taking 44 boxes of Rogaine and 54 boxes of Crest Whitestrips, among other items, in the process, DNAinfo reports.
The East Village was, unfortunately, not immune to this crime spree, as the Duane Reade on Avenue B and Second Street was hit on Aug. 13. During this early-morning visit, the suspects allegedly stole 15 boxes of Rogaine, two boxes of over-the-counter medication and 14 boxes of Crest whitening strips, DNAinfo reports.
Given the number of Duane Reade locations in the area (800? 9,000?), we thought you should be aware of these incidents and think about backup brands to Rogaine and Crest just in case.
Though not mentioned in the article, it's likely the suspects are taking the stuff to resell (based on previous accounts of these stolen items around the country)... as opposed to making some kind of homemade drug or peroxide-based dessert. (A box of Crest whitening strips cost upwards of $40.) There isn't any ingredient in a teeth-whitening strip that can be considered dangerous. And minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine. It may cause dizziness. This effect may worsen if you take it with alcohol or jump up and down really quickly.
The DNAinfo piece has a description and photo of the suspects.