Pharmasave Katherine turns to emergency locum after pharmacist hit by horrific home invasion

One of Katherine’s two pharmacies is operating with the assistance of an emergency locum after its pharmacist was the victim of a horrific home invasion involving weapons and threats.

Pharmasave Katherine is operating with the assistance of an emergency locum after its pharmacist was the victim of a horrific home invasion in the early hours of June 6, 2024. Picture: Supplied

The owner of a Katherine pharmacy has been forced to turn to a locum after their ordinary pharmacist was the victim of a horrific home invasion.

According to NT Police, at about 1.30am on June 6, police received a report that two unknown males had unlawfully entered a residence on Bergman Cct, Katherine South, armed with edged weapons.

“The offenders allegedly threatened the occupant of the residence before stealing a vehicle from the location and fleeing the scene,” a spokesman said.

“The vehicle was located by police a short time later on Maluka Dr, Katherine, after being abandoned.

“Forensics has been obtained from both locations and investigations are ongoing.”

This masthead has learnt the threatened resident was the full-time pharmacist at Pharmasave Katherine, one of the township’s two privately owned pharmacies, alongside Territory Pharmacy Terrace.

A spokeswoman for South Australian-based Iron Pharmacy Group, which owns both pharmacies, confirmed their employee had fallen victim.

“We’ve just been there to support him, as you do in the company,” she said.

“We’ve changed his accommodation and done anything he requires us to do to make him feel safe.”

But contrary to chatter on social media, the pharmacist had not quit town, the spokeswoman said.

He does, however, need some “time off”, she said.

Katherine Police have taken forensics from the Katherine South home invasion and recovered vehicle, but are yet to make any arrests, NT Police say. Picture: Alex Treacy

The spokeswoman said Iron Pharmacy Group was able to obtain the services of an “emergency locum” to provide dispensing services for the foreseeable future.

Asked what the financial impact on the business would be, the spokeswoman said she “couldn’t put a number on it”.

“Obviously it would have put a dint in sales, but because we own both stores in Katherine, everyone would have gone to our other pharmacy in the interim,” she said.

She claimed Pharmasave Katherine – located in Katherine Central shopping centre – was only closed for one day as a result of the harrowing home invasion.

However, social media users have suggested its hours have been patchy since.

“Anybody know why the chemist is closed in the Woolies complex? No sign or note on the door,” wrote one local just after noon on June 14.

“They have closed the store a few times now without putting any sign up,” another local responded.

Over the Easter long weekend earlier this year, a senior teacher at one of Katherine’s schools quit his post and left town after falling prey to similarly outrageous criminal conduct.

“I can’t go back to Katherine. This scene is haunting me,” the teacher said in the wake of two youths breaking into his home and holding knives to the throats of the occupants, including himself.