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Uploaded: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 9:52 AM

Booze theft from Longs Drugs results in arrest
Michael Gates, 29, charged with robbery after allegedly stealing alcohol from Longs Drugs

Posted by employee, a resident of Mountain View, on Jul 22, 2009 at 10:44 am

I work at longs and this happens all the time! not only alcohol, but also makeup, food, medicine... people empty out the contents and leave the empty box somewhere else in the store...

Posted by hate cvs, a resident of Menlo Park, on Jul 22, 2009 at 11:03 am

We can only hope that the store will decide to leave town. The CVS acquisition destroying the old Longs is the worse retail experience we have ever had to go through. CVS is hopelessly bad and should take themselves off out of here. It is expensive to shop there now, and the old Walnut Grove products that used to be frequently on sale in the Longs era seem to be gone, AND you need a loyalty card.

Posted by Former Long's customer, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 22, 2009 at 12:03 pm

I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who dislikes the CVS takeover of Long’s. Ridiculous prices, an emphasis on food & beverages rather than things you expect to find at a drug store. I went there the other day to get an Ace comb and a common button battery. Left emptyhanded – no men’s combs, and the peg for the button battery was empty.

Posted by Unhappy too, a resident of Menlo Park, on Jul 22, 2009 at 12:23 pm

I agree with comments about CVS. So vote with your feet and boycott. Jon Carroll of The Chronicle wrote a column recently about the problems of getting prescriptions filled and reminded us not to take it out on the employees. I needed to hear that, as I tend to do that sometimes. Go to the corporate office instead with your complaints.

Posted by English Critic, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Jul 22, 2009 at 2:58 pm

Your writers seem to have a difficult time with the English language. What did he steal? Booze or alcohol?

Posted by John, a resident of the Meadow Park neighborhood, on Jul 22, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Why did the employee care? How did this man stealing a bottle negatively hurt him? People have too much pride in CVS employers. Get lives.

Posted by Dr Sauce, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jul 22, 2009 at 4:49 pm

It's nice to see that we have some Walgreen's employee's interested in bashing the competition.

I think that it takes a lot of pride in someones job to confront a thief. I applaud the employee for caring and standing up to the criminal.

Posted by booze expert, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Jul 22, 2009 at 7:19 pm

I'm pretty sure, having lived in the US all my life, that booze is a slang term for alcoholic beverages. What planet were you brought up on?

Posted by Cynthia, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jul 22, 2009 at 9:26 pm

You guys are cracking me up today! Good humor is always welcomed!

I like calm and funny.

Thank you

Posted by Sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jul 22, 2009 at 10:28 pm

At one time there was a ban on alcohol within 1 mile of Stanford campus, a ban on anything above 3.5% beer and allowing only wine in eating places in Palo Alto would save us a lot of trouble,in the UK most beer is 3 to 4% and when they have have UK soccer crowds in Europe they only allow that level of alcohol served.

Stanford is wise to not allow beer in the football stadium, a general prohibition is silly but high alcohol drinks are becoming almost as much a health cost as tobacco.

People should be free to get drunk in their own homes, if they want to handicap themselves, but public intoxication should at least be treated like public smoking, as pariahs

Posted by anonymous, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jul 23, 2009 at 3:31 pm

I have been disappointed by CVS and taken my business elsewhere.

Posted by It's pat, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jul 23, 2009 at 8:15 pm

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Posted by nini, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Jul 23, 2009 at 8:32 pm

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Posted by Employee, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jul 23, 2009 at 9:07 pm

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Posted by sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jul 23, 2009 at 9:19 pm

In Midtown we now have 3 chain pharmacies in 2 blocks,

what about the plight of the local pharmacy?

I cannot understand why these pharmacies also sell tobacco and booze.

Posted by icare, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jul 23, 2009 at 10:55 pm

Stealing Bad.. Overpriced items Bad.... Having to get multiple store cards to get sale prices Bad.. CVS Employees uninformed and left helpless Bad.... Have a complaint always ask for a manager... The little guys are just there to work.Thkx

Posted by YSK, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 27, 2009 at 5:16 pm

CVS is not a welcome addition. I wish they hadn't bought out Longs. I have not had a good experience there. They didn't transfer a whole lot of people's information correctly. Not a good start...