Drug Store Bandit Sentenced to Jail


A man who robbed several drug stores in Lower Bucks County was sentenced to five to 15 years in state prison recently.

Rowland Woodward  Credit: Falls Police
Rowland Woodward
Credit: Falls Police

Rowland “Woody” Woodward IV, 36, of Lower Makefield, pleaded guilty in several cases cases connected to seven drug store robberies that happened last year. According to Assistant District Attorney Robert James, Woodward also has to complete mental health and drug/alcohol treatment.

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Being in early 2013, Woodward robbed drug stores in Bristol Borough, Falls and Lower Makefield. In the robberies, the method and suspect description was similar. The blue medical gloves used in the robberies made Woodward distinct, police said.

A friend of Woodward’s told police in fall that they both had an addiction to prescription Percocet, court papers state. The addiction was blamed for the robbery spree.

The suspect during the CVS robbery. Credit: Lower Makefield Police
The suspect during the CVS robbery.
Credit: Lower Makefield Police

Woodward’s robbery spree, according to police, fell apart in late October night after he robbed the Country Farms Market on Makefield Road in Falls at around 8:30 p.m.

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According to court papers, investigators from Falls and Lower Makefield used text messages between Woodward and his alleged getaway driver to find out where he fled following the armed robbery of the Country Farms Market.

Woodward was captured after a short foot pursuit and discovered the fully loaded handgun used in the robbery in his pocket, according to court papers. The stolen money – $631 – was also reported to have been found on Woodward.

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An additional key component in capturing Woodward was the getaway car, a white Honda Accord  used for several of the armed robberies.