VALLEY GRANDE &045; After recent robberies of two prominent businesses, officials want to take a proactive approach to holiday crime.

Local business owners will meet at 6:30 p.m. today at the Public Safety Building. Mayor Tom Lee, representatives from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and Public Safety Director Boyd Pugh will talk about beefing up security.

Lee wants an increase in sheriff’s department patrols at and around businesses. He also wants deputies to escort employees or business owners when they make night deposits. The proposal would cover businesses through the end of the year, then Lee wants to review the situation.

But the extra security will cost from $15,000 to $20,000, and the Valley Grande City Council has to approve the move.

As they planned for the meeting, authorities continued searching for two suspects in the Oct. 26 attempted robbery of the Dollar General Store on Hwy. 22.

The FBI is still investigating the Sept. 13 robbery of the Peoples Bank and Trust during which three gunmen wearing hoods were said to have &8220;taken over the bank&8221; during morning business hours.