This summer several businesses just off Interstate 65 have been robbed or burglarized.

Taco Bell was held up this past Friday night when a man went through the drive-through, pulled out a gun and demanded money from the cash register.

The last week of July, Peach Park and a gas station were both broken into. Video surveillance from Peach Park shows masked men running inside, guns in hand.

A few weeks before that, it was another gas station, and further back up U.S. 31, an audio store and San Marcos restaurant. The man who robbed the Sunny Shell Food Station held the store up with a shotgun and allegedly threatened the cashier if she called police.

The crimes were violent, and for the most part, remain unsolved.

After the Taco Bell robbery this past weekend, Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell said his department is beefing up patrols near the Interstate.

We hope adding more officers to the area will help lower what is becoming an increasingly common problem.

In the meantime, all citizens should be on the guard for any suspicious activity. Anyone with information about any of these cases should call the Clanton Police Department at 755-1194. Callers can remain anonymous.