Commerical robberies are on the rise in Prince George's County, Maryland.
And as Jessica Forres reports…the police department is advising business owners to take preventive measures.



At Prince George's County's police headquarters, Robert Freeman, who owns a string of barber shops, expresses his concern over the uptick in commercial robberies...

SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MYSELF WILL BE AFFECTED BECAUSE WE'RE CASH BUSINESSES.

He says break-ins are pretty common... roughly one a year since he started his business more than a decade ago….But last December a thief robbed one of his shops and shot a barber in the foot...

IT MADE ME FEEL TERRIBLE AS A BUSINESS OWNER . I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN PREVENT SOME OF THE THINGS FROM HAPPENING.

Though commercial robberies in the County have been on the decline since 2005, they have spiked in recent months. Captain James Harper says the faltering economy could be to blame. His department is addressing the problem through a number of strategies. One is to work with business owners...

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WAS ECHOED HERE TODAY IS IF THEY DO COME INTO YOUR STORE, LET THEM TAKE THE PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY CAN BE REPLACED, YOUR LIFE CANNOT BE REPLACED.

Captain Harper also advises businesses to take note of the robber's appearance...

START DOWN. IF THE PERSON IS WEARING A BLUE HOOD, WITH A BLACK MASK AND A RED JACKET.

Prince George's police say there have been 75 commercial robberies so far this year.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News