The Butler area ended last week on an unhappy note with police investigating three robberies, including a shooting, that occurred within a span of about 24 hours. The spree of serious crime within such a short time frame is rare for this community.

Upon hearing news of the incidents, some people justifiably might have wondered whether the criminal element views Butler as a pushover in terms of crime.

Arrests are necessary to dispel that troubling and uncomplimentary notion and ease the fears among banks and other businesses — whether they are open during normal business hours or also late at night or all night. Authorities are hoping that anyone with information concerning any of the robberies will come forward. They can even contact police anonymously, if that is their preference.

The first of the three robberies took place between 8:40 p.m. and 9:08 p.m. Thursday at the T J Maxx store at the Clearview Mall. The robbers, who communicated with one another via walkie-talkies, managed to escape with $6,321 in a diaper bag after handing a note to a clerk with instructions to turn over money.

Approximately 13 hours later, at 9:44 a.m. Friday, a man who police say might be linked to three other bank robberies in the county — two in Zelienople and one in Butler Township — entered the Citizens Bank branch on North Main Street in Butler, showed a teller a note demanding money and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Less than 12 hours later, the most tragic of the three incidents took place. A man attempting to rob Drive-Thru Beverages at 171 Pittsburgh Road in Butler Township shot the beer distributorship's owner, Charles R. Fend Jr., 58, in the stomach, before escaping.

Fortunately, Fend, who underwent surgery at a Pittsburgh hospital, reportedly is continuing to recover.

While it is hoped that Fend will be able to provide key information to the police to help them identify the robber/shooter, police are asking for help from anyone who might have seen something that could help them identity the suspect.

That is the hope regarding the Clearview Mall store robbery and the bank holdup, also.

Two men who were customers at the bank at the time of the robbery chased the holdup man, nearly catching him.

The customers were able to provide police with a partial license plate number, but police are looking for even more information about the robber's identity.

Police also are hoping someone will come forth with a valuable clue or tip regarding the T J Maxx holdup.

Judging from descriptions of the holdup men, the three crimes apparently were the work of different people.

Did any or all of the robberies have a link to a need for money to buy illegal drugs? Much of today's crime reportedly has a drug link.

For the city and its neighboring municipalities, the three incidents represent, at least, a troubling coincidence while evoking the following questions:

Why is Butler being targeted?

Is there really a perception among the criminal element that the community isn't vigilant? Do criminals think that the community is anemic in terms of police manpower and crime-solving expertise?

Arrests in these incidents are needed soon to dispel such ideas and restore a sense of safety, not only in the business community but also among people who live and work here — and who until now always have regarded Butler as a safe place.