CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some business owners are planning to band together to protect themselves after a pair of armed robbers prowled around two of the busiest shopping centers in University City.
"It's beyond scary. I'm a business owner, a small business owner," said Camille Jackson, the owner of a cafe and catering shop.
[ALSO READ: Woman carrying toddler robbed in University City]
Her restaurant is a few doors down from the Wing Stop in the Mallard Pointe shopping center, which was robbed early Tuesday morning.
Wing Stop employees told police that one of the robbers got in through a back door, while the other waited in a getaway car in the alley behind the business.
Police said the robber charged through the back door when an employee brought out the trash. Fortunately, the employees were able to escape without any injuries.
"To have someone break in while people are actually here, with a weapon that could harm them and take their lives, I don't like that,” Jackson told Channel 9. “That's very, very scary."
Before police rushed to the Wing Stop, they were at the nearby Applebee’s in the popular Shoppes at University City. The pair tried to hit the Applebee’s first, but the doors were locked, according to police.
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When police rushed in, the crooks took off. While officers were still on scene, shoppers said the robbers snuck over to the Wing Stop.
"I'm just kind of shocked,” shopper Janae Brown said. “I don't really hear about that happening in this area that much."
Shoppers like Brown were surprised by what Channel 9 found when we crime mapped the two shopping centers. In the past month, there have been at least six break-ins, 11 theft cases, and two assaults where the attacker was armed with a gun, Channel 9 discovered.
"I'll definitely be a head on a swivel because when I come here it's always hair down,” said another shopper, Tyrone Green. “You're not thinking about possible danger."
Jackson said she now plans to start something like a neighborhood watch for managers and employees, so they can come up with a plan to protect themselves.
"There's nothing you can do but hope for the best, pray, band together, try to make things improve," Jackson said.
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