A Townsville pharmacy has been robbed by a thief who made off with Oxycontin and other pain medications.

Key points: A Townsville pharmacist says a thief who made off with what is likely thousands of dollars' worth of prescription drugs seemed "experienced"

A Townsville pharmacist says a thief who made off with what is likely thousands of dollars' worth of prescription drugs seemed "experienced" The criminal told female staff in the pharmacy that he had a weapon in his bag when he forced them to open the safe this morning

The criminal told female staff in the pharmacy that he had a weapon in his bag when he forced them to open the safe this morning Police have since arrested a 34-year-old man, who say they was taken into custody without incident

Police say a man wearing a hoodie threatened two staff members at the Belgian Gardens pharmacy just after 8am, telling them the bag he was holding contained a weapon.

It is the third time the Bundock Street Pharmacy has been hit by thieves, and pharmacy owner Ashraf Agaibey said he was devastated to hear his business and staff had been targeted again.

"What else can a business do other than having CCTV recording and clear instructions for staff on what to do in certain instances like this?" Mr Agaibey said.

"You can do nothing."

The owner of a pharmacy in Townsville says he doesn't know how to protect his store from thieves after a third robbery. ( ABC North Queensland: Chloe Chomicki )

Mr Agaibey said the thief seemed to know exactly what he was looking for.

"He knew what he was doing and seemed to be experienced in this sort of stuff," he said.

While he estimated that the latest attack would to cost thousands of dollars, Mr Agaibey said he was the most important thing was that his staff members, two women in their 20s and 30s, were not physically injured.

"Staff safety comes first and they are fine," Mr Agaibey said.

'High-end' haul

Townsville District Police Senior Sergeant Guy Harvey said the man's intentions were clear.

"He just wanted the safe emptied," he said.

"He made certain threats to the staff here and then obtained high end prescription drugs and has left the store in a white vehicle."

Police say the suspect was spotted leaving the scene in a white vehicle. ( ABC North Queensland: Chloe Chomicki )

Although staff did not see the weapon the man claimed to be concealing in a bag, police will alleged that he was carrying one.

"We'll allege that he was armed with some sort of weapon that was inside a bag that was opened to the staff," Snr Sgt Harvey said.

He conceded that deterring criminals from pharmacies is a difficult task and said the best thing for business owners to do is upgrade their security systems.

"A key thing that we rely on is quality CCTV vision," he said.

"If they can [they should] update their security systems [and] make sure they have a duress alarm that is easily accessible to their employees."

Police later arrested a 34-year-old man who they said was assisting them with their inquiries.

The man was stopped by police on Cape Pallarenda Road and taken into custody without incident.