Pierce had concerns for her safety working alone overnight. There are other businesses in the metro that have taken steps to beef up their own security based on similar fears.

The thugs who shot and killed Pierce walked right into the store, but there are businesses where walking right in is not an option.

You can't do it at Lillian’s Flower Shop at 35th and Leavenworth. The door is locked and you have to be buzzed in. Mary Blankenship set up the security system after she was robbed years ago.

“He grabbed me and threw me down on the floor, knelt on my back, put a gun to my head, told me if I didn’t shut up he was gonna blow my brains out. Then he picked me up and drug me back here and then he made me open the register and then he was mad because there wasn’t enough money."

Now there is a security system in the flower shop, complete with a panic button that Mary carries around. Ever since the system was put in place she has not had a major problem. “No, not armed robbery. I think the word is out."

Mary says every now and then she might misjudge a person and open her door to someone who turns out to be a shoplifter. "Like on Valentine’s Day when somebody came in and grabbed a whole bucket of flowers and ran out the door.”

Jason Brazel is with Control Services, setting up security systems. He says many business are now looking to protect their workers and their profits.

“When the economy's tough people are in more need of money so they’re willing to do a lot more to get those dollars so security, even though the economy has been slowing down and bad, we haven’t seen a real dip in the security systems being purchased. In fact in our business, we've seen actually an increase."

The price of a security system varies and depends on if you want cameras and alarms. The door-lock system that Mary has at her flower shop only cost a few hundred dollars.