Thieves break into Apopka vet offices, steal parasite meds, police say

APOPKA, Fla. — Police in Apopka are on the lookout for an individual who they say broke into two veterinarians' offices and stole thousands of dollars’ worth of flea, tick and heartworm medication.

Apopka police said the thief was seen in surveillance video smashing the front door with a hammer and wearing a Halloween mask.

Cameras caught the individual breaking out the door of Sheeler Road Animal Hospital with a hammer just before 3 a.m. Friday, police said.

Repairing the door will cost about $1,000, not counting the monetary loss of the medication, said Wayne Lundberg of Seeler Road Animal Hospital.

“Like any small business, any unwanted, unnecessary expense cuts into the bottom line. So it is never a good thing and it is the inconvenience as well as the monetary damage,” he said.

The person made off with more than $3,000 in parasite medication, the Apopka Police Department said.

“(The thief could be) selling it on Craigslist or flea market,” said Lundberg. "(The thief should) go find a job and make a real living."

Someone broke into Park Avenue Animal Hospital two miles away,  but employees told Channel 9 that nothing was taken.

Cox Media Group