LIVERMORE FALLS – More than 5,000 prescription narcotic pills worth about $20,000 were stolen from Rite Aid Pharmacy on Sunday morning within three minutes of a burglary alarm being reported, police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said Monday.

A similar break-in and theft occurred at the business in 2004, and a third one occurred in Rangeley last month.

The alarm went off at 7:18 a.m. Sunday, and when officer Vern Stevens arrived at the Main Street store at 7:22 a.m., nobody was around, Steward said.

On Aug. 31, 2004, 5,000 painkillers were taken within four minutes of the alarm going off at the pharmacy. No one has been charged in that case.

Rangeley police continue investigating a break-in Dec. 5, 2008, at the Rangeley Pharmacy on Main Street where more than 6,000 narcotic pills were stolen. That burglary and theft was committed within four minutes of the alarm going off. By the time police arrived, no one was there.

In Sunday’s burglary, entry was gained after a drive-through window in the rear of the store was pried open and removed, Steward said. Two cabinets where narcotics were kept were pried open, he said.

Among medications taken were OxyContin, Oxycodone, morphine sulfate, Adderall, methodone and Avinza, he said.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy David Rackliffe and a police dog did a track for a suspect, but it was not successful, he said.

Jay police were called in to assist securing the building.

About $3,000 damage was done to the pharmacy, Steward said.

Maine Drug Enforcement Agency will assist Livermore Falls with the investigation, he said.

Anyone who has any information or who may have seen something that morning is asked to call police at 897-3424.