Houston’s East End has seen a spike in pharmacy burglaries, prompting some to take extraordinary security measures.

“Bulletproof glass and steel doors and everything,” pharmacy owner Esther Cohen said.

Cohen has installed extensive security devices to keep herself and her business safe.

“I have a lock. I have two double locks,” she said.

She did it all because thieves have broken in four times in the last two years.

One might think that with all the added security, the crooks would look elsewhere, but they came back to Cohen’s store just two weeks ago.

They made their way in by cutting the alarm wires and stole drugs.

“You’re talking about thousands and thousands of dollars in controlled substances that ends up in the hands of drug pushers, kids and addicts,” Cohen said.

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East End pharmacies are facing a spike in crime .

Cohen also said that two nearby pharmacies were burglarized so many times, they simply shut down.

What’s worse, each time her pharmacy is burglarized her insurance rates go up.  She says she can’t afford another break-in.

But now other businesses in the East End are getting involved.  The Chamber of Commerce wants Houston police to take the pharmacy burglaries more seriously. 

The lieutenant in charge of that area declined comment Wednesday, but investigators did recently make an arrest in connection with a string of pharmacy burglaries on Houston’s west side.

Cohen hopes police will catch up with the burglars striking her part of town before they make her a victim again.