INDIANAPOLIS — Business owners and employees are taking measures to protect themselves following several recent robberies on the northeast side.
One florist is even locking the doors during the day.
Jacqueline Phelps said she put up a sign telling customers, "Due to increased activity in the area, our doors will remain locked today. Call and someone will let you in."
"At least if I see somebody that I think looks a little suspicious, I can choose whether to open the door or not. It's just kind of a way of protecting ourselves and protecting our employees," she said. "I've had customers tell me within the last week they were like this area was never like that. We've never had to worry about our homes or going outside our homes and going shopping."
Last month, a Subway employee was shot and killed while working down the road. A Kroger and Speedway gas station were robbed nearby, as well.
George Wright, president of the Binford Redevelopment and Growth Board (BRAG), said the group had a meeting Thursday night and sat down with members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Departments and city council to discuss the upward trend in robberies.
"Some people are really angry, some people are really frightened," Wright said. "That doesn't stop the crime, but if you get to the point that you're doing a better job prosecuting crime, that's going to be a huge deterrent. We just need to come together and get organized and be determined we are just not going to put up with this anymore."
BRAG encourages neighborhoods to start crime watches and for businesses to update their surveillance cameras so they are not so vulnerable.
"I'm just hoping they can catch some of these guys, these people, and get them off the streets before someone is taken from their family," Phelps said.
