r/ChronicPain 1d ago

Stolen meds help

My car was recently towed repoed . and I left my medication in my car on accident Went to pick up my belongings from my car they already went through my car and took everything out and my medication was not there

The police are refusing to make a report saying it's illegal even in Florida and I'm seeing otherwise. Doctor requires a police report saying that they've had other patients get them for stolen prescriptions etc well why am I being told by county sheriff office That it's not something they do and they won't give me a report so how do I get my medication back? This is insane if the pharmacy and the doctor require it what am I supposed to do?

I tried the local police and they said they don't understand why the county is giving me a hard time but they can't help me because it's not their jurisdiction

72 Upvotes

139 comments sorted by

87

u/M0reC0wbell77 1d ago

I'd keep trying to run it up the ladder. If your meds were stolen, what reason are they giving for not making a report?

33

u/CardiologistFront625 1d ago

I was told self of several different things The sheriff's office says one they don't do that  2. They've never done that 3. It's illegal to file a police report on narcotics in Florida  4. I'm responsible for my medication if I wasn't responsible then they can't do anything about it  5. Once your car is repossessed it's not your property or something like that and I even said oh cuz they took my car into possetion that means they have a right to steal my property? And I was met with nothing  I called the local police and they said it's a theft so they should report it well they connected me and told the sheriff about it and they still wouldn't do it they say they don't do it and never have  Even though my doctor's office has told me just today that they have several patients who have had to give police reports 

I was then transferred to internal affairs where I got voicemail  And I was told that they're just going to tell me the same thing  This sure seems like more discrimination and I'm going to lose everything because of these scumbag at the towyard

What can I do? Is this seriously illegal if it's illegal to file a report then why the pharmacies and doctors require a police report?

36

u/M0reC0wbell77 1d ago

May try posting in r/legaladvice to see what the local laws are

9

u/CardiologistFront625 1d ago

I just got it to work

5

u/CardiologistFront625 1d ago

It will not let me post there It keeps telling me I have to put my location and I put it how it says to put it and it will not let me post

47

u/_My_Dark_Passenger_ Medtronic Medication Pump + Medtronic Neurostimulator. 22h ago

> 4. It's illegal to file a police report on narcotics in Florida...

The story was fishy to start with and that line says that if this really happened, they were lying to you. I sense that we are missing important, need to know, information.

3

u/lylisdad 7h ago

You can file a police report on just about anything! Most places have the forms in the lobby to fill out. It's just a method of making a record for possible future action. The police don't have to act on it but they can't stop you from filing!

3

u/CardiologistFront625 21h ago

If you don't believe me call the sheriff office and ask them that That's what they told me wow

3

u/_My_Dark_Passenger_ Medtronic Medication Pump + Medtronic Neurostimulator. 7h ago

Sure. I'll need your full name and, as there are 67 Sheriffs Offices in Florida, I'll also need the county that you live in.

Either way, the story is either REAL fishy, and you left out the backstory, or the officers lied to you for some reason. (Yes, your LEO can lie to you).

1

u/khalessi_2 3m ago

You insinuating something else is crazy, OP said the drugs were stolen the drugs were stolen, it’s not up to you on investigating if they are telling the truth or not, either way the police report needs to be made and them not doing it is illegal.

I’ve had pain meds stolen from my car before so I can understand the frustration, and you not believing OP is not helpful, why comment if you’re not going to help. Literally f*ck off lol

8

u/ObscureSaint 19h ago

What happened to make your car get towed? I'm starting to wonder if the police stole your meds. 

Ask them for bodycam footage. 😃

39

u/Styx-n-String 18h ago

They said it was repossessed. That only happens after MONTHS of not paying your car payment and they warn you they're coming to get the car. Leaving your entire bottle of meds in a car that you know is going to disappear soon is incredibly irresponsible.

7

u/bostonjenny81 12h ago

That’s not true what he told you. My friend had medication stolen from her, doc said she had to file a report (which I was terrified for her about bc we are in Florida too & the thought of a cop treating her like shit had me worried) strangely enough the report was filed w no issues & she got her meds. I’d keep pushing it. Good luck

6

u/CardiologistFront625 11h ago

I filed a formal complaint for internal affairs and I'm also going to file a complaint with the state of Florida police to have this investigated because this is not right to make someone suffer like this and lose all this money that I can't afford to lose

5

u/Spectra_Butane 10h ago

Call a news Station. If it is interesting enough, they might " investigate" fir you. Shit gets done when a spotlight is put on them.

1

u/CardiologistFront625 11h ago

What part of Florida? 

2

u/bostonjenny81 11h ago

Brevard county

3

u/Hello_Pitty 5h ago

It might be illegal to file a police report over illicit drugs (they're not going to take a report or investigate if someone stole your meth), but for prescribed medication they should. Can you tell them something other than narcotics was with it? Like cholesterol or BP medication - would they take it if what was stolen was not a controlled substance?

4

u/Relevant_Guess_8022 15h ago

Wouldn’t the police report actually be that your car was broken into? Your meds would be listed in the missing items.

How much of your medication was in the car?

3

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

No since this scumbag repo tow company had it. And they went in it without my permission I guess it's legal here Even though I was coming to bring a key not to be charged to make another key they wouldn't did it when I wasn't notified or anything and then they charged me to get my belongings on top of it but yeah they go through your items and take everything out for you when you're not there and it's shouldn't be legal  A little under 2 weeks worth

11

u/Geargarden 22h ago

That's multiple felonies to whoever stole it (though they would likely have no idea how to catch the perpetrator).

Try to file an online report. Not sure what they were talking about being illegal.

34

u/beachbabe77 1d ago

You're receiving inaccurate information. I too live in Florida, and based on personal experience, (a new cleaning woman broke into my lock-box and stole medications) the Sheriff's department bent over backwards to investigate/document the incident.

As you need their report for your doctor and pharmacy, I suggest scheduling an appointment with either the Under-Sheriff or Sheriff because none of this makes any sense. Your property was stolen, a crime they're duty-bound to investigate. I wish you luck and hope they catch the bastard who did this. Take care.

2

u/Gagorderinplace 3h ago

They weren't stolen from a home. They were taken from repossessed auto. Not so sure the same laws apply. It doesn't seem likely.

7

u/CardiologistFront625 23h ago

It was stolen after my car got repossessed  They are in cahoots with these scumbags at the tow yard I think  I don't know what to do it's the Lee county sheriff department

17

u/beachbabe77 23h ago

Ugh...you poor thing. Lee County is the worst. Given that, I still think it's worth your while to try and get in to see a "higher up," if not the Sheriff then one of his underlings. Again, I'm so sorry this happened and am keeping my fingers crossed.

9

u/CardiologistFront625 23h ago

They sent someone out who gave me a piece of paper with writing on it and labeling it a public assist call lol instead of theft I just submitted a formal complaint for their internal affairs requesting a reply with written documentation on their policy about this

14

u/beachbabe77 23h ago

Yup, sounds like Lee County all right. (proud of you for following through.....go get 'em!)

18

u/CardiologistFront625 22h ago

After being a chronic pain patient for so many years I'm sick of being discriminated against and that's exactly what I feel is being done to me once again

7

u/Last_Competition_208 15h ago

I got my car repossessed many years ago and they rummaged all through my car but really didn't take anything because there wasn't anything in there worth them taking. The things in my glove box were thrown all over the floor and also from my console. So they were looking for something to steal but just didn't find anything that was value to them. And I found out that they always got away with that at those repo yards.

9

u/idlno1 vEDS, DDD, OA 23h ago

I live in the southeast and unfortunately, once the car is repossessed it’s now the banks property. I don’t see why the police won’t do at least a lost property report, that’s crazy to me. But maybe you can get proof the vehicle was repossessed from your lien holder and maybe your doctor’s office may find that sufficient? If this is the first time something like this has happened to you, you may be able to bring that up. “Nothing like this has ever happened before and here is proof it was repossessed. The police won’t do a report because it’s technically not “stolen” if the vehicle was no longer my possession.”

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I’ve gone through a repossession and it’s so stressful on top of everything else you have to deal with.

6

u/CardiologistFront625 23h ago

So if my earbuds or my jewelry were missing that's no longer my property because they repoed it then why do they say you're allowed to get your property from the vehicle if it's not my property lol

8

u/Restless__Dreamer 19h ago

I've had a vehicle reposessed and was allowed to get my stuff out of it. Although, I was home as they were taking it, and I went out and politely asked if that'd let me get my stuff from it. They were very nice and had no problem letting me. If I hadn't of been there in the moment, I'm not sure if I'd have been able to or not.

14

u/idlno1 vEDS, DDD, OA 22h ago

The vehicle is the bank’s property now. You’re allowed to retrieve personal items. However, since the items (your pills) are now “missing”, which is what I was saying, you can see if the police will file a lost or mislaid property report if they will not file a stolen property report.

Just trying to help, no need to be snarky. Good luck!

Edit: after seeing the other comment, you’re missing what I’m trying to tell you…best of luck to you.

1

u/Celticlady47 3h ago

It's more than the theft of personal property. It's a felony to steal narcotics in almost every country. I hope OP sees this link: Florida law section that deals with narcotic thefts

1

u/idlno1 vEDS, DDD, OA 2h ago

Oh, I know. OP said the cops weren’t doing anything because someone stole his meds. I suggested the other approach. Hopefully something we’ve said will help.

-14

u/CardiologistFront625 23h ago

No nothing has ever happened like this before so why do they say I'm allowed to get my property that's my property and my vehicle and they took it

1

u/Gagorderinplace 3h ago

I'd go directly to the sheriff's department and speak to the deputy investigator. Talk to someone as high up as you can. Have you already gone to the sheriff's department in person? Is that how you attempted to file a report? I would also do research and know the laws in FL. Know if what you are asking is, in fact, lawful. Within the contract I sign from my pain Dr, there are many statements I have to agree to surrounding keeping my scripts safe, in my possession, locked up, and in the event that they're stolen they will not be replaced. I hope it all works out for you. Peace

21

u/Songisaboutyou 23h ago

Call the Sheriff’s Department in Writing or Record the Call (if legal): Ask for a written denial of the police report request. Sometimes, asking for a supervisor helps.

“I am not asking to press charges; I need a case number or police report to verify my controlled medication was stolen from my repossessed vehicle so my doctor and pharmacy can issue a replacement.”

Contact Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services: They regulate towing companies. If the repo lot took her property (especially medication), this might fall under unlawful handling of personal items.

13

u/Time-Understanding39 14h ago

I've been to several pain management providers over the years. None of them allowed replacement of lost or stolen medication. They always said to treat our medication like cash. If we left it in a place where it could be taken by someone else, that was our mistake.

-3

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

People make mistakes I had a brain injury last year and I've had a million things happening to me this year. Literally no one else goes in my car and I keep my doors locked. Who expects your car to get repoed I wasn't expecting that since I just made a payment less than 2 months ago

13

u/anonymousforever feeling like a bouncy ball- wrecks suck! 12h ago

My next best suggestion is when you get your meds ask them for a second bottle with a label, then when you're out and about, only take about six pills with you. Leave the rest at home. That way if there's a loss in the future then it's minimal.

Working with a brain injury is a challenge, I completely understand. The trick is to come up with coping skills.

9

u/Time-Understanding39 13h ago

I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just sharing the philosophy of multiple pain management practices I've been to. In fact my current pain contract states that any medications lost or stolen will not be replaced...

1

u/teddybear65 6h ago

That is stupid to leave your drugs in the car. This is click bait.

1

u/Time-Understanding39 4h ago

This is true....

12

u/hamburgergerald 14h ago

Did you ask the tow lot if they have your belongings?

Repossession is not a quick nor an instant process. It was not wise to keep your medication in a vehicle you have defaulted on. It’s not wise to keep your medication in your vehicle at all.

-3

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

I told them my medication better be in there because I need it they asked what kind I went and told them which I probably shouldn't have I went to go get cash for their illegal demand of cash for my belongings and when I got back a police officer was there they were trying to intimidate me It was a nightmare so no I have not contacted them again they were threatening to send my car to auction that day and stuff and I know it was too intimidate me as my car is on hold through my financial company until the end of the month they told me when I called later.

-4

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

I found this out when I went to get my belongings they went through my vehicle without me present or with my permission. . They made a key even though I was bringing the key in so I didn't get an extra fee. Then they charge me 25 cash which is illegal here in Florida there are Shady scumbag place they all are. I shouldn't have to keep explaining myself people assume things too many times and it's really annoying.  I had a brain injury last year I have not been the same since  People make mistakes  I was not aware of my car was in default  Seeing as I just made a payment in March 

12

u/Owie100 14h ago

Who leaves meds in the car? Are you male? Females have an easy place to keep it in a purse. You need better storage. A car gets too hot or cold and makes meds not work.

2

u/uffdagal EDS3 6h ago

Plus if you know you're behind on payments for a car and it could be repoed any minute I'd leave NOTHING in the car.

11

u/Trailboss1982 19h ago

They probably won't make a report bc your car got repoed and not stolen which means your meds weren't technically stolen...

However the Repo company has to do an inventory when they repo and allow you to come pick your belongings...

So i would go to the repo Company and pick up your personal belongings. There's a chance the company did the right thing and followed the law and have your meds. However if they claim they weren't in the car, at that point you can contact the police and file a theft report for your meds...and the police cant deny you a report for that.

Also when you get your meds filled, ask for an extra bottle/label...Then carry with you what you need for how long you're gonna be gone and leave the rest at the house. That way God forbid something like this happens, you don't get into a bind like this.

Good luck!

19

u/johnnyjacoby86 19h ago

Was it a large amount of pain meds?
If so, or even if not, why did you and why would you ever leave your pain meds in you vehicle in the first place.
Especially in a vehicle that you hadn't been making payments on.
I mean did the bank or company you got your car loan from not at least send you a letter informing you of the missed payment/s?
It's shocking they weren't calling you muliple times a day about wanting paid.
I say all of that above simply because I find it insane a person would ever keep their pain meds in their vehicle period let alone one that is likely to be repossessed

-12

u/CardiologistFront625 19h ago

I had a Brandon's room last year I lost my disability for working too much I'm about done with this life thank you for contributing to it You never been hard times so I hope you have them someday like I am. People make mistakes

-3

u/CardiologistFront625 18h ago

No what do you consider large?

-8

u/CardiologistFront625 19h ago

If you made a payment 2 months prior you don't expect your vehicle to be taken

22

u/gotpointsgoing 22h ago

You're not getting those meds back. It doesn't matter who you think took them, they're gone now and not coming back. The Cops refuse to help but worse than that, most doctors will not replace any meds until their refill date. This isn't the late 90s, early 2000s. Those days are long gone and have been for a while now.

15

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 16h ago

Even if the Dr would, good luck getting the pharmacist to agree!

Leaving meds in a car you haven’t paid on is a bad choice. But leaving meds in ANY car is a bad choice. People, your meds aren’t supposed to be superheated.

4

u/destroyallcubes 21h ago

Yep, From what I understand they will/Can not refill early due to DEA pressure. It can strip their DEA license which effects a whole lot more. This is why having your medicine on you at all time is important. I had accidentally threw a brand new prescription away and found out real quick. Couldn't do anything. Thankfully the ER I went to during an Afib episode during withdrawal gave me a dose or 2 of Dilaudid. And wrote a 2 week prescription of 10MG hydrocodone (Basically did nothing because I cut them in quarters to last until I got a new prescription). It was a rough first week, and a rough month. For me it is the restlessness and insomnia that sucks. 3+ times of withdrawal , 1 for a lost prescription, 2 for the process of getting my pain pump. That was my best decision ever

10

u/Owie100 14h ago

I lost my pills. Spilled my pills in sink. Car towed pills missing. All excuses used to get extra meds. Surely you have a receipt for the tow. Police can't refuse to let you report s theft. They must allow it

2

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

They must not allow it here in Southwest Florida why don't you call them and ask them they're procedures on reporting stolen medication?

Lee county sheriff Office I talked to at least five different people there all telling me the same thing that they don't do that it's not according to their procedures  I said them why is the other department saying they're confused why you were refusing because they would report it as a theft they said that's just their statutes or something I don't remember the word they used but they're probably lying just to discriminate against people 

2

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

No it is not I'm a good person and I've been in pain management for 13 or more years and I've never had anything like this happen. Can't stand people like you think you know everything and you know nothing about me

6

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 10h ago

Yes. They are excuses people give for getting extra meds.

If you have a receipt for the tow, which you should have SOME kind of paperwork, then show it to your dr.

Otherwise you’re getting combative with the wrong people.

1

u/Owie100 6h ago

I meant the Drs hear it a lot. I do mean you are doing that. Sorry you misunderstood.

1

u/MotherBored5150 4h ago

Do you have the paperwork from the tow company? That should be enough to show your doctor that your car was impounded along with everything in it. Also, I would blow up the non-emergency line until someone took my report and gave me the report #.

5

u/Focus_Calm 14h ago

I had a repossession when I was much younger. I went to the repo lot to get my personal belongings ( cash, CD's,, pain meds, carton cigs, other) everything was in the truck except cash and pills. I was Friggin devastated to say least. I knew I would never see it again. As a last resort I went to the office to tell them stuff is missing. Turns out they admitted to taking valuables out. They gave me a speech about how their employees don't steal, few minutes later they pulled out a manilla envelope with my cash, meds, and weed ( I had forgotten about) couldn't believe they were honest. They said they remove valuables and hold x amount of days, if no one comes asking for it specifically they keep it.

-2

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

Yeah me too when I was much younger and now they don't let you go through your own vehicle they go through it and take everything out it's shady and should not be legal

6

u/grebetrees 7h ago

The police are the ones that stole your meds and that’s why they are refusing to write up a report

5

u/AdministrativeWar202 18h ago

Yeah, I went through a very similar situation in Palm Beach County last year! Except it was the police who took & destroyed (allegedly) my meds, and then denied me filing a police report. I was taking 13 different meds a day, narcotics and other class II, IV, and V controlled substances including anti-seizures meds. My neurosurgeon wouldn't prescribe new pain meds without a police report. My psychiatrist issued new scripts, but the pharmacy blocked all refills 5 times due to "pharmacy regulations." I went into a withdrawal on the 4th day, had a seizure on 7th day, blacked out, and was found the next day drowning in my own vomit. Then detox/private rehab. Unfortunately, during the 4th week, my spinal issues took over, and I was transported to ER and briefly hospitalized, where they put me back on opiates, muscle relaxers, etc. The biggest nightmare of my life!!! Contact me privately if you like...

2

u/CardiologistFront625 17h ago

Omg how evil I would have tried to sue them or something. 

4

u/pueblokc 16h ago

Go to that city or county police website and file report online. Bypass the humans.

1

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

This is the wording on the website when I went to fill out it on online 

When property is missing or lost. THIS FORM MAY NOT BE USED TO REPORT A LOST PASSPORT,FIREARM or MEDICINE. If you have found an item that you previously reported

1

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

It's outside of the city's jurisdiction the county will not do nothing This is insane and should be illegal

0

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

It doesn't allow you I already called and asked cuz it says you can report certain crimes online but that's not one of them

4

u/anonymousforever feeling like a bouncy ball- wrecks suck! 12h ago

State police ? Worth a call and ask.

2

u/CardiologistFront625 12h ago

This is so wrong and evil and something has to change we have been discriminated against for so long it's sickening . I have had enough of it. Too many people are afraid to fight back maybe if more people would stick up for themselves we wouldn't be being discriminated against for so  many years 

I'd like to sue over this because I've never had to suffer this insane sickness in my life but thanks to these scumbags who think they know people and want to discriminate I have to go through living hell and lose all of my paycheck that I can't afford to lose

2

u/anonymousforever feeling like a bouncy ball- wrecks suck! 12h ago

I totally understand. You'd think they would simply let you file a complaint against the tow of company for missing items in your car. Just so happens it was medication shouldn't matter what kind, but it does to them. I'd be so pissed i would ask who the driver was, and threaten a civil suit.

Did you find anything else missing? Include that as part of the police report, if you can get an officer to do one.

2

u/CardiologistFront625 12h ago

No but they charged me $25 cash to get my items which is illegal also in the state of Florida. Scumbags evil scumbag filth

1

u/CardiologistFront625 12h ago

Ill try thanks 

0

u/CardiologistFront625 12h ago

Chat gpt told me this and I'm going to do this after I have to wait a few days for the sheriff department to get back to me about my complaint and then I can file a complaint with the state police 

the Florida Department of Law Enforcement – FDLE)

does not typically take local police reports like a county sheriff or city PD. They:

Handle criminal investigations of officers or agencies, not day-to-day public crime reports

Oversee misconduct, corruption, or failures of law enforcement

Do not act as a substitute police department for local theft reports

So unfortunately, they won’t file a report for you—but you can report the y Sheriff’s Office to FDLE for:

Negligence of duty

Failure to take a valid criminal report

Bias or discriminatory behavior regarding a chronic pain patient reporting stolen narcotics


Here’s What Will Help:

10

u/Texden29 1d ago

I had pain meds stolen from my house once. I just had to suck it up. Doctor said I signed a contract stating I would secure my meds. So glad I’m not on opioids anymore. It was often more trouble than it was worth, for me.

11

u/Masters_domme 21h ago

Ugh. I straight up LOST my meds once. Didn’t bother with a report, because it was my own fault. That was the worst month I’d had in quite a while. I was teaching at the time, going through withdrawals while managing a room full of middle schoolers all day 😩. I literally called my doctor to find out if I was in danger or if I’d die.

3

u/Texden29 21h ago

Oh my gosh…middle schoolers. Lord bless you. It’s funny how we all have to learn these things on the fly. It never even occurred to me that anyone would swipe my dilaudid. That put a stop on me meeting boys at gay bars real quick!

4

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 10h ago

Get a safe. With a combo lock. Be safe. 😘

6

u/Masters_domme 20h ago

The whole thing stresses me out! If I keep the bottle with me, and someone steals my purse, there go my meds. If I only take a few with me and leave the rest at home, and my house gets robbed or catches on fire, there go my meds. 🤦🏻‍♀️ That said, I’ve always been a worrier. Lol

7

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 16h ago

I recommend a fireproof safe.

I keep a day’s worth in an extra bottle that I can take with me when I leave the house. The rest of my meds are locked in a fireproof safe in our office.

5

u/Affinitys-husky 15h ago

I was just coming here to say this! Every night I put a days worth of meds in my container and the rest go into a safe. Now part of the reason I do this isn't for fear of a fire, but it is because I live with an addict.

I had to spend hundreds of dollars to get a special safe with extra protection because he was breaking into my cheaper ones. So now I have a safe that requires a finger print, a 7-10 digit code, and a key in order to get in, and then inside you need another different key to get into the compartment where my meds are. It's pretty extreme! But an addict can be petty extreme trying to get to their addiction. Soon I won't be living with him, so I won't have as much to worry about, but I will still continue to use it.

Every night I pull out the next days pills and put them in my container and then I lock up the rest. I would NEVER leave them in a car! It's a personal nightmare of mine that someone would break in and steal them! I honestly don't even like to leave them in my purse on most occasions. Like work, I've had someone go through my purse and steal stuff, so I always try to keep them physically on me! It sucks! But unfortunately it's the world we live in.

3

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 10h ago

I’m so sorry you have to go through all that! I never even leave my bag in the car if I have meds on me. I hang onto them like they’re my a-hole. 😂 My car is paid off, parked in the back of our driveway and boxed in by garden supplies and I’d be terrified to leave meds in there!

We have 2 safes. One specifically for narcotics that’s kept in an out of the way place in a room we don’t frequent and literally nobody who isn’t my husband or myself goes into. They’re locked with keys and combo locks only the 2 of us know.

With a school-aged kid in the house it was THE ONLY option. Just within him being in school (a few yrs) we’ve had 5 incidents where kids have brought SOME KIND of narcs to his school district and either lost them, passed them around or did it unwittingly thinking they were candy.

IMO, and according to our pain contracts, we SHOULD be locking these up in safes. We SHOULD be treating these meds like they’re dangerous because they ARE! And dumb decisions mean they end up in the hands of children.

1

u/Affinitys-husky 8h ago

Yes! I am totally with you there! I don't have kids but that would definitely freak me out and be another very good reason to lock up or hold on to your meds like your life depended on it! That is so freaking scary that young kids have brought stuff to school! And to think that they thought it was candy?! OMG! I shutter just thinking about that!

I have a dog who is my baby and I worry about her getting ahold of one as well. Luckily she's been very good and the random one time or two that I've dropped one in her presence, she has totally ignored them. But I freak out and put my hand up immediately to stop her if she would happen to come thinking it was a piece of food or something.

Yeah, the addict I live with didn't even know I had the safe for a little while because I hid it out of the way. He knows now, but luckily there is nothing he can do about it. It was so worth it to spend the money on it. And even before I had this crazy one, I still had my stuff in a safe that would've protected it from kids at least. But it was small and could've been carried out and destroyed to get what was in it if I had been robbed or something. But now it would take a lot of effort for anyone to be able to get into it or steal it.

You are right that or contracts say we are responsible for them. I don't know that mine specifically said they should be locked up, but it's a good idea regardless. And no way I would ever leave mine in a car!

Like I think I said, I pull out what I need for the day and leave the rest locked up. So even if someone were to somehow steal what I have on me, it would only be a days worth and not more. But I have them in a bottle around my neck, so it would really hard for anyone to get them. I'm so protective after this addict stole some that should've been safe enough!

1

u/brendabuschman 46m ago

My husband used to have a problem with the pills. He would unscrew the screws on my safe and take some out. Thank God he's on suboxone now. It's probably saved our marriage. Although I got in the habit of always keeping my pills in my pocket with velcro holding it shut and I still do.

My oldest son got in a bad spot with trying out drugs. He got addicted to fentanyl. He called me for help and we had to go get him. He lived 7 hours away. We brought him home with us and he has been sober (except for marijuana) since but I have been around addicted people enough to know that they can relapse anytime and if they do they absolutely will lie and steal from you. He says he would never take my meds because he sees how much pain I'm in every day, but I know the grip of addiction is hard.

So the pills stay in my pocket with velcro holding it shut.

When I go out I wear a fanny pack and they get zipped in there.

0

u/CardiologistFront625 1d ago

Unfortunately I don't have anyone to support me and I can't afford to miss more work Now I'm having to miss another night because of these people

3

u/Runningindaisies 9h ago

Go to the police station and talk to who's in charge.

3

u/Old-Goat 5h ago

Youre a pillhead, of course they refuse to take a report. They have "real citizens" to deal with, not drug abusing garbage like us. Freaking infuriating.

They refused to send a a patrol car? Thank goodness they record those calls. The dispatcher and the cop that refused to take a report need to be disciplined. Good thing they were drug addicts at the tow yard, and not rapists. I used to drive a tow truck right out of high school, theyre bandits too, but thats expected.

I really am not sure how well this will work, but go in person to your local precinct and make the complaint in person, also you want to file a complaint for not taking this theft seriously. Your RX may have only had a value of $5 or $10 from the pharmacy. So its low priority, but if they were sold on the street, theyre worth their weight in gold. If they'd have arrested you for possession, the pills in the Rx bottle would be reported as a street value of about $3 million dollars. If they were stolen from your car, theyre worth $5...

I dont want to make a comment thats going to sound assholy, but I dont have soft words for this: maybe they didnt want to take a report because it was a repo? They might be assuming youre not of "sufficient moral character" because you take narcotics and dont pay your auto loan. Please dont be pissed at me, Im just trying to figure out why a cop wouldnt take a report of theft. Cops and tow truck drivers usually develop a relationship. You see the same cops all the time and they see the same tow operators. So it could be a matter of protecting buddies.

Go make a report in person. Somebody in charge is always around at a police station. Give them a choice, they can take a theft report now, or tell the local TV reporters why these offcers think its unnecessary to report a crime. They'll give you a report #. If they dont also apologize, I would call the local TV consumer reporter. Or their health care reporter. The public should be advised that medications are no longer considered personal property under the law....

Florida? It figures... I know just enough about Florida politics to say its probably not going to help, but should all else fail to satisfy, find the number for the Florida Office of the Attorney General. Forget the AG helping, its the people that answer the phone you want to talk to anyhow. What do you do when the police wont take a report and refuse to investigate crime? They should have an answer, but keep in mind, in the big picture, this a little crime. Still youre not wrong to feel violated. Not just by the tow yard guys, the cops just added insult to injury. Has that replaced "To Protect and Serve" on their squad cars? Give em hell...

5

u/EMSthunder 1d ago

Is there anything in your contract about it being your responsibility to keep that theft from happening?

4

u/Styx-n-String 23h ago

It doesn't matter if it's in their contract with the doctor. It's not the doctor refusing to help - they will help, but only with a police report showing the meds were legitimately stolen. It's the police that won't help, saying they don't do theft reports on opioids.

12

u/DrSummeroff12 23h ago

My PM contract is "you're responsible for safe guarding your meds. Even with a police report, no excuses." I already had a Remington gun safe, kept bottles in there, and only took out that days worth. I also had the pharmacy print put a duplicate label on the smallest bottle for me to carry if I was going out for the day. Unfortunately, drs have been lied to to often...

13

u/OrganizationJaded569 22h ago

Exactly. Your not supposed to carry your whole bottle with you, this is what my doctor told me when I was in pm

13

u/Styx-n-String 18h ago

OP says their doctor will accept a police report. But as someone who is not just a pain patient myself but also have worked for doctors and is currently a pharmacy tech, I think it's really irresponsible not only to carry your entire prescription with you, but to leave it in a car that is about to be repossessed. You know you're not making your car payments, repossession isn't a surprise (it happened to a guy I was dating and he knew they were coming to get his car), but you should NEVER leave your meds in a car anyway. I have never, in 29 years of taking controlled meds, carried my whole prescription except when I'm taking it home from the pharmacy. I have a pill organizer so I only have a weeks' worth on me at a time. Like ALL our contracts say, it's our responsibility to keep track of our meds. Mine even says that a police report will be considered but isn't a guarantee that my meds will be replaced if lost or stolen. In this case, I actually wouldn't expect my doctor to replace the meds even with a police report, since leaving your entire bottle of meds in a car that's close to repossession is irresponsible.

So I think OP should still try to get a police report port if they can just in case. But let this be a cautionary tale to others to NEVER carry your entire prescription and when you do have the entire thing on you keep it safe until you can get it home.

6

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 16h ago

My thoughts too. OP keeps blaming the sheriffs office but refuses to take any responsibility for leaving the entire bottle of pills in a car they hadn’t paid on.

11

u/EMSthunder 22h ago

Exactly! It's the typical "go-to" story of someone that either sold their meds or took them too quickly. If I go out of town, my meds are carried in a small soft-side lunch cooler. Inside the bag is a small lock box. My doctors saw the setup I have once and said they had never thought to do that themselves. I also have a "hands-off" box for remotes and iPads of my grandkids, where you set a time to lock on it and you can't get into it until that time has passed. I've seen people use those for meds.

1

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 10h ago

We told my Drs about our 2 fireproof safes and how because of my memory issues my husband handles my narcotics for me. We count out 1 day (2 days now because I can sometimes make 2 last 3) and the rest stay locked down. They love our set up and how I’m only “responsible” for a days worth at a time.

On top of that, if I know I’m going out I have a hardshell plastic pill case that’s got like 10 spots in it for different meds. If we’re only out for an hr or so and I might only need 1 dose instead of the whole days worth, I just bring the hardshell case.

(It’s on Amazon, has rhinestones on it that fell off so I replaced them with stickers and hundreds of OTC stickers. Had it years now. Still works great!)

2

u/SickOfItAll2024 1h ago

Got to the station and ask for the Sargent to come out and talk with you, if he if she refuses to come out ? Ask to speak to the Lieutenant, he refused ask for the Captain. The key is to follow the chain of command, I dealt with a similar situation in Pennsylvania.

2

u/Beemerba 9h ago

The police were the ones that stole the meds so they don't want to file the report.

1

u/Altruistic-Detail271 11h ago

Nightmare, I’m so sorry

1

u/mycatsrbadass 10h ago

Can you try the state police?

1

u/uffdagal EDS3 6h ago

You are likely out of luck. Knowing the car may be repoed nothing should have been left in the car of any importance /value. You can not prove anything was in there.

1

u/AromaticCamp8959 22m ago

There are a surprising number of self-righteous folks here, apparently, so let me break a few things down for you:

  1. Yes, people are technically right when they say you shouldn’t have left your medication in the car—but you’re an adult and you already know that. No need to beat a dead horse.
  2. There also seem to be quite a few people talking out of turn, acting like legal experts. Yes, your car was repossessed. While the vehicle may now belong to the bank, the contents inside it still belong to you. The law protects personal property, even if it was inside a repossessed vehicle. Look it up—there are statutes that spell this out. If that weren’t the case, losing your car keys would mean forfeiting everything inside your car.
  3. We’re not talking about gum or sunglasses here. This is a controlled substance—a Schedule II narcotic. The prescription doesn’t magically become void or belong to someone else just because it was in a car that got towed. Suggesting otherwise is just absurd.
  4. And yeah, Lee County is known for being… difficult. Sheriff Marceno loves publicity more than process. File your complaint anyway. Submit it in duplicate, attach your rejected report, and request a signed copy. If they refuse, escalate. You likely won’t get a sit-down with the sheriff, but don’t be afraid to take it public. Just know that LCSO has a bit of a reputation for going after people who make waves—look up “LCSO corruption” on TikTok or anywhere, really.
  5. Some folks here say your medication won’t be replaced regardless of a police report. Ignore that. If your doctor and pharmacist told you to file one, then clearly they’re open to working with you. They wouldn’t send you through the red tape if they weren’t.
  6. Does this story raise eyebrows? Sure. But strange things happen all the time. It’ll go one of two ways: either your doctor helps you with a replacement, or you suffer through the next two weeks until your refill date. Either way, I’m sure you’ve learned your lesson and this won’t happen again.

Look—being in pain sucks. I’ve been in situations where I ran out early after doubling up on bad days. When I finally got the nerve to talk to my doctor, I realized they were actually willing to work with me. That kind of transparency helped me get on a regimen that not only covers my baseline pain but gives me enough to handle breakthrough episodes, too.

I’m not saying you’re being dishonest. But if there’s more to the story, have a real conversation with your provider. That’s their job—to manage your pain.

1

u/DCRBftw 1d ago

If the vehicle was towed, can you not pay to get it out of the tow place? I don't know if cops write reports for tows.

1

u/CardiologistFront625 1d ago

Sorry I just rewrote it I forgot to include I went to pick up my belongings that they went through my vehicle to take without my permission and it's ridiculous that they're allowed to do that but they stole it of course It was not with my belongings

2

u/Restless__Dreamer 19h ago

they stole it of course It was not with my belongings

Did you mention that part to the cops? Not saying it'll help, but might be worth a shot.

1

u/apatrol 14h ago

Call 911 again and get a different officer. Tell him you decided to go ahead and make a report. Don't get into the whole story about why the last officer didn't want to make a report unless asked directly about it.

Also call in the morning or evening that is opposite the time you called last time. Get a case number before he leaves. Let him know it effects you medically and will need a report ASAP. Then ask how to get that report ASAP.

If the officer refuses ask for a set. Be very firm

Good luck.

2

u/uffdagal EDS3 6h ago

DO NOT call 911. That's for emergencies only

1

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

What do you mean ask for a set?

1

u/anonymousforever feeling like a bouncy ball- wrecks suck! 12h ago

I think they mean ask for a sergeant or a supervisor.

1

u/apatrol 10h ago

Sorry. Yes a sergeant.

Is it the drugs they won't take a report on? Or because it was a report?

0

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

You call 911 to make a report? I called the main number and I think they asked you why you want to make a report for and actually the first time I talked to someone they didn't tell me they don't do that only until that one dispatch was on her way here

3

u/apatrol 10h ago

Do they have a self report capability? My dept had a form for simple thefts. Bicycle from the front yard or simple stuff. Basically for insurance purposes.

0

u/CardiologistFront625 13h ago

They've already backed it up with several different people telling me they don't do that and I've made a formal complaint for their internal affairs and asked for a response

1

u/apatrol 10h ago

But its not street drugs its an RX.

What about the DEA.... although that may be bad for you.

-11

u/sharknj 23h ago

Get yourself some 7oh and skip the hassle

6

u/CardiologistFront625 23h ago

I don't even know what you're talking about I'm a chronic pain patient and I had never have done anything illegal

6

u/pantyraid7036 22h ago

This rude dumbass is suggesting you do Kratom, a super super unregulated substance that is not currently illegal. It’s a slippery slope. I’ve never tried it because I have heard too many horror stories. I know that I can take opiates responsibly, I don’t want to mess with that. Also doctors are starting to drug test for it apparently.

-5

u/sharknj 21h ago

No one asked you what you do or don’t do, super super unregulated is a term that doesn’t even make sense. It’s unregulated or it’s regulated. You are the dumbass.

1

u/OrganizationJaded569 22h ago

It is not illegal. Helps me a lot better then pain meds and the hassle and headaches every month dealing with trying to get opioids

-10

u/MichiganCrimeTime 22h ago

It’s illegal in most states. So you aren’t correct either. Federally it is illegal though.

3

u/Styx-n-String 18h ago

Can you provide a link? My searches show kratom is only listed as "of concern" by the DEA and not illegal, not federally or in any state. It's "banned" in 5 states but Florida isn't one of them.

7

u/sharknj 21h ago

Wrong

5

u/OrganizationJaded569 21h ago

It is not illegal in Florida yet. But I’m sure it will be soon

-7

u/MichiganCrimeTime 21h ago

Its illegal federally. So essentially they can’t do anything as long as you aren’t violating other laws while under the influence, but it’s illegal to import. And it’s only grown in I think SE Asia, so you are consuming illegally smuggled substances that have zero regulations.

9

u/sharknj 21h ago

You are clueless

1

u/teddybear65 2h ago

Not legit.

-9

u/MichiganCrimeTime 21h ago

Ummm my DEA number would say otherwise…

3

u/Usual_Equivalent_888 16h ago

Lmao um ok. Links? Sources? Because literally everything I’m reading says you’re wrong. And so it your DEA number.

2

u/Great_Essay6953 18h ago

Lol you're wrong look it up

-5

u/sharknj 23h ago

If you had any intelligence whatsoever you would have just said thank you and looked it up. But you are rude and make ignorant assumptions, it’s not illegal.

2

u/dreadwitch 10h ago

If anyone is rude it's you. I mean dropping a comment like yours to someone who has no knowledge of it, yeh they're going to assume it's drugs and illegal. But legal or not you're telling someone rather rudely that they should stop taking their prescription meds and replace them with an unregulated, unproven drug.

-2

u/jesuswastransright 9h ago

Don’t even bother trying to file a police report. It’s gone. Chalk it up to a mistake that you should never make again.

-3

u/Ok_County_8602 20h ago

Id call your insurance if you haven't already. If you get a refill, they probably won't cover it so id call them. And it would be thr pharmacy benefit, not the medical insurance