First Uptown, then downtown Dallas and East Mockingbird - crime waves are sweeping Dallas.

Now, crime is skyrocketing in another high-end part of town - the Knox area.

But it's not just burglaries. Violent attacks have doubled this year.

Businesses are having to adapt to keep their customers safe.

"We put a video camera up... so we can see everyone walking this way," said one business owner.

The safety planning is in motion now for several businesses on Travis Street.

Cameras are going up around Cafe Madrid and Omar McNary just installed them at Park Cities personnel training.

"Here, we don't usually have problems and then all of sudden we have a rash of issues in the community," McNary said.

Issues in homes and businesses, like aggravated robbery at gunpoint, or a suspect threatening to kill a sales representative.

"It's a little disconcerting, especially for this neighborhood," McNary said.

One of McNary's trainers was recently threatened with a gun leaving work.

Two other workers just rescued a woman being attacked on the sidewalk.

"She was badly beaten. [I] brought her in the club and she winded up having a concussion. It was pretty bad," McNary said.

And while the number of crimes aren't way up - it's the type of crime that's concerning.

Violent acts have doubled from this same time last year.

"They are for whatever reason becoming more violent," the business owner said.

Police say the economy could be behind the problem because people are desperate.

One flower shop, for example, has been hit up three times in the last three months.

So for now, businesses aren't as worried about stolen cars with big price tags. Their focus is protecting their patrons.

E-mail sslater@wfaa.com.