Business owners surrounding a second-hand jewelry shop where a suspect was shot in a robbery attempt earlier this week say they’re a little more conscious of the people entering their stores, but they also say the latest scare is a sign of the times in their neighborhood.

Kenosha police continue to investigate the attempted robbery and shooting at the Jewelry Exchange, 2400 52nd St. A second suspect and the driver of a getaway vehicle had not been located or identified by late Friday.

One of the suspects, Vernon Fields, 29, of Zion, Ill., was shot once in the chest around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when he and another suspect reportedly entered the business and pointed a gun at the 55-year-old owner. Reports said the owner pulled his own handgun from underneath a desk and fired it at the men.

On Friday, shop owners in the neighborhood seemed to be carrying on with business as usual. People interviewed by the Kenosha News mostly shrugged off Wednesday’s robbery as a part of life and applauded the store owner’s courage.

“I think he did the right thing, and I hope he doesn’t get in any trouble for it,” said Frank Hughes, who owns Southport Tile next door to the Jewelry Exchange. “I was talking to him yesterday and in the 10 minutes we stood outside the door, everybody that drives by gives him the high five or honks their horn. People stopped and were shaking his hand.”

Hughes said the robbery attempt has him thinking a little more cautiously. He said he might reposition the desk in his office, and he’s been keeping his doors locked a little later in the morning.

At his business, Hughes has few walk-in customers, so he’s more cautious of anyone who looks suspicious or comes in at an odd hour.

“It’s pretty scary, but it’s patrolled,” Hughes said. “There’s squads here all the time up and down the street, and it’s the middle of the day. It’s business hours. You can’t really stay locked all the time.”

The robbery at Shirl’s Drive-in in July that involved the shooting death of 18-year-old employee Robbie Wilde also is fresh in many business owners’ minds. Hughes knew Wilde and was a victim himself in an armed robbery several years ago while he walked home from a bar.

“A lot of stuff has happened and it’s not because of the lack of police protection or anything like that,” Hughes said. “They patrol as much as they possibly can. Maybe it’s the economy or people’s unemployment checks are stopping.”

It helps that law enforcement officers are regular customers at Mac’s Deli & Catering, 2302 52nd St., but owner Kris Macarra agreed police do as much as they can to stop crime.

“It’s the neighborhood,” Macarra said. “You have to be prepared always. It’s kind of scary, but the neighborhood people pretty much just watch out for each other and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to survive.

“Anything that gets robbed down the street, the gas station, whatever, everyone’s a little more cautious, but I don’t think anyone is freaked out about it.”

Mario and Maria Miceli say they’ve never had a problem in the 41 years they’ve had their business, Miceli Bros. Tailor Shop, 2311 52nd St. But they also acknowledge their business is on a busy stretch through the heart of the city, and anything can happen.

“What else can we do?” Micelli wondered as she worked at her Singer sewing machine. “I’m not working on a sewing machine with a gun underneath. I just hope and pray that nothing’s going to happen, and be alert.”

At The Puppy Tub & Motel, 2419 52nd St., Javier Jaramillo said employees have discussed improving their surveillance cameras and stepping up other security measures.

Despite the Jewelry Exchange owner’s use of a weapon, Jaramillo said his employees also are being reminded not to risk their lives for a few bucks.

“Sometimes we think that ‘Oh, something happened there because there’s probably more money that (the suspects) could take,’” he said. “But still if people are looking for money, they can go to wherever ... You feel kind of scared about people coming in, but I think that’s normal, especially when it happens that close.”