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JACKSONVILLE — A string of fast food restaurant robberies in Eastern North Carolina has Jacksonville police taking preventative measures.
 
The Jacksonville Police Department and the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce hosted a crime prevention information session on Friday for employees of fast food restaurants.

Bojangles employee Jennifer Beaver said she attended the event to learn how to make restaurants safer for workers.

"We've had a lot of robberies throughout our company that we've been aware of the past two months and it has heightened our security and our awareness and some of our insecurities," said Beaver.
 
Detective Anthony Ramirez, of the Jacksonville Police Department, gave Beaver and other ideas on how to prevent a possible robbery. 
 
"Putting notes on the door saying that your business carries no more than $200 and cashiers don't have access to the safe. Make sure that everybody that goes in to the business knows that security cameras are out and about," said  said Det. Ramirez. 
 
Detective Ramirez said if anyone is ever a victim of a robbery, people should call 911 as soon as the suspects leave. Afterward, write down as much information about the event as possible. 

Det. Ramirez said even the smallest of details can make a big difference to police investigations.
 
"Write down what the suspect looks like and try to make sure if there are two witnesses to the incident that you don't talk to the second witness. That way there is no merging of the information," said Ramirez.

Police say people should try to remember details such as the suspect's height, shoe color and body type.   Beaver said she learned a lot during the session and will recommend it to others.

"Most of it was basically getting back to the roots that we had and what we should be doing as managers anyhow to protect the people that work for us," said Beaver.
 
The Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce will host another seminar called Breakfast Briefs for Businesses which will discuss additional crime prevention tips.  They will be on March 21, April 18 and May 16.  It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 9:30 a.m.