Warilla business owners are locking their doors between customers after a series of armed robberies in the area.
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Police will not say whether the hold-ups are linked, but at least one arrest is thought to be imminent after days of investigations.
In the latest attack, 28-year-old Antonia, of Antonia's Hair and Beauty Salon, was robbed at knifepoint at 3.55pm on Tuesday.
A man approached her "within a minute" of her last client departing the Beverley Avenue salon, while she was working alone, Antonia said.
He pointed a knife at her and demanded she open the till. She handed him the first pile of notes before he reached over and emptied the register.
As he did, he said, "I'm not gonna hurt you, I just want the money", Antonia said.
"I was fairly shaken up. You always hear about robberies but not in your own shop, and usually they're overnight."
The hold-up follows similar robberies at the Lucky 7 convenience store on George Street and the Caltex shop on Shellharbour Road, both on Sunday, at 10.55am and 6.15pm, respectively.
The convenience store attendant, a 23-year-old Indian student, was robbed at knifepoint, while a handsaw was used on the attendant at the service station shop.
Antonia said the robberies had rattled business owners in the area. "I think it's made everyone quite cautious," she said. "People who've worked in the area for years have said, 'lock your door'. We're all sitting in our shops with our doors locked."
Senior Constable Mark Scott from Lake Illawarra police encouraged business owners to "do whatever makes them comfortable in their own environment".
"Our investigations are ongoing; we're expecting to make an arrest very soon."
ang.thompson@fairfaxmedia.com.au
