Veterinary Tech Charged With Stealing Pain Meds From Animal Clinic

Police arrested a 24-year-old kennel technician Thursday night after conducting surveillance that reportedly showed her stealing pain medication from her employer, the Natick Animal Clinic.

Sarah A. Lewis, of 16 Ashworth Dr., North Oxford, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. yesterday and charged with five counts of larceny of a drug. Police said she stole hydromorphone and fentanyl. Both Class B drugs, hydromorphone is a derivative of morphine and fentanyl is approximately 100 times stronger than morphine.

The Natick Police Department's narcotics division had been conducting surveillance at the animal clinic, after managers noticed inventory discrepancies, Police Lt. Brian Grassey said.

A double-locked narcotics locker, viewable from the outside of the building, was the subject of the surveillance.

"The charges reflect several events," Grassey said.

Detectives arrested Lewis at the clinic last night. She was released without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.