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GREENSBORO - The shocking daylight killing of an armored car employee at a busy shopping center Monday punctuated a period of increased violent crime in the city.

The next evening, three robbers wielding handguns robbed a jewelry store on Battleground Avenue.

For many, the cheerful weeks leading up to Christmas are now characterized by fear.

The first two weeks of December have averaged almost one more violent crime reported per day than the same period last year. The difference comes mostly from a higher number of robberies police have investigated: 51 this year, compared to 37 in the same period last year.

The death of Juan Estevan Salado, a Brink's Security employee shot during a robbery at Old Navy at the Friendly Center on Monday, brought new attention to violent crime in Greensboro.

"I think it just shows that we're not immune to violence," said Lt. Brian James of the police department's criminal investigation division. "We just have to be vigilant, be aware of our surroundings and not be complacent."

James said detectives are continuing to work to identify the shooter in Monday's homicide and robbery and ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers.

"We can't let something like this keep us from being able to conduct business on a day-to-day basis," James said.

November had four fewer violent crimes reported than November 2007: 170 compared to 174, according to police department data.

Shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday, a man and two women armed with handguns robbed Custom Jewelers Gallery at 2447 Battleground Ave. The robbers took items from an unlocked safe and display cases.

Owner Tony Pietrantozzi said he's never had an armed robbery at the store, and only two thefts in the store's eight-year history. But Tuesday's robbers pointed handguns at his employees and threatened them, Pietrantozzi said.

"They knew what they were going to do," he said. "I think it's just the economy. People are just needing money really bad and willing to take big risks."

Employees in neighboring shops are also thinking about increasing security.

The owner of the shopping center added lights in the middle of the parking lot, which has helped, said Jim Reitzel, a manager at Fleet Plummer, which is across the parking lot from the jewelry store. Some store owners are talking about adding cameras in the parking lot, Reitzel said.

Friendly Center does not have cameras in the parking lots, but several stores have exterior cameras that face the common areas, said Brad Rogers, the center's manager.

It was unclear Wednesday whether Four Seasons Town Centre has cameras in its parking lots. There were no visible cameras outside and officials there declined to comment. Signs inside the mall warn that security cameras are in use.

By Wednesday, Pietrantozzi had hired a private security company that started patrolling immediately.

"Today, I just wanted to make sure we're more secure," he said.

Custom Jewelers opened as usual Wednesday.

"You can't let this stop you," Pietrantozzi said.

Police ask anyone with information about a crime to call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000. Anonymous callers are eligible for rewards.

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or sonja.elmquist@news-record.com

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com