CHOCOWINITY — Thieves broke into O’Neal’s Drug Store in Chocowinity early Monday morning, getting away with a cache of prescription drugs.

According to Chocowinity Police Chief Todd Alligood, the drug store’s alarm activated at 4:21 a.m. Minutes later, deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office secured the crime scene in which the suspects had broken the lock on the front door to gain entry.

Very little damage was done to the store, Alligood said, but five different types of pills had been stolen, all of varying strengths.

“Several controlled substances were taken. It was one of those things where they were going in after narcotics,” he said. “Now we know what we’re looking for. We just don’t have a description of the suspect yet.”

While O’Neal’s Drug Store does have video security, Alligood said they’re having software issues with the system — as of Monday afternoon, police had not been able to access the digital recording.

This is not the first time the Chocowinity pharmacy has been hit by pain meds thieves: in 2011, when electricity was down in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, two men broke into the store and took large amounts of opioid-based Oxycontin and Oxycodone, along with about $1,000 in cash. The two were arrested within days, thanks to a tip.

“Right now, we’re just seeking information. That’s how we solved the last one. We’re hoping we’ll get a phone call on this one, too,” Alligood said.

Alligood asks that anyone with information about the O’Neal’s Drug Store break-in call the Chocowinity Police Department at 252-946-2882 or Crime Stoppers at 252-974-6400. To text a Crime Stoppers tip, text BCS0131 plus your tip to 274637. All Crime Stoppers tips are anonymous.