When a Launceston business owner checked his security cameras he spotted three intruders.
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Youngtown Pharmacy owner Jason Martin received a security call on Monday night after offenders smashed their way into his business.
Turning on his cameras, he saw the thieves stealing medication in what he described as a "very targeted" burglary.
"They were quite targeted with the medicine, there was clearly a deliberate goal in mind," he said.
Not only did the offenders steal supplies from the pharmacy, they damaged about $20,000 worth of fixtures Mr Martin had recently installed.
The damage to the door also forced him to spend the night in the pharmacy, unable to secure the premises until the following morning.
"I have spent a lot of money renovating my business, I am very passionate about the community I look after, so to have this sort of thing occur is devastating," he said.
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Less than half an hour after they left the Hobart Road business, the offenders broke into Trevallyn Pharmacy, and stole more medication and cash.
"I was quite upset to hear what happened at Trevallyn," Mr Martin said.
"The pharmacy community in the North of the state is quite a small, and supportive community."
For Trevallyn owner and pharmacist Amanda Hutchinson, it wasn't the first time she had experienced a break-in.
During her 30 years working in the industry, she had worked in a number of pharmacies and at one point in Victoria, was held up by a robber.
"It is just one of those awful things, these are people that clearly don't know how to work hard and don't have respect for other people," she said.
"We are just lucky no staff were here, and nobody was hurt."
Trevallyn Newsagency owner Frank Piscineri managed to capture the offenders on his security cameras.
"You could see three blokes breaking in," he said.
"It didn't take the police long to get there, and a bloke took off in a car. One ran down Trevallyn Road and another went down Bain Terrace."
It was understood some of the medication stolen from both premises was prescription medication.
Launceston acting Inspector Nick Clark said police were still reviewing footage from both incidents on Tuesday evening, and nobody had been taken into custody.
A small black hatchback was seen at both crime scenes, with police calling for anyone with information about the car to come forward.
"Two burglaries is two burglaries too many so if anybody has information please let us know," acting Inspector Clark said.
The burglaries happened about 9.15pm and 9.35pm.
Anyone with information should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.