YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Police Department will conduct extra patrols through the rest of the year.

The patrols will focus attention on businesses and the roadways so that those living and shopping in the city have an additional sense of security, Capt. Jason Simon of the detective division of the police department stated in a news release.

Starting Monday, marked and unmarked cars containing uniformed and plain-clothes officers are patrolling “all sides of town throughout the day, helping to promote a safe and enjoyable experience for those traveling and shopping in the city of Youngstown,” Simon stated.

By phone Monday afternoon, Simon said he has no data to indicate that robberies or thefts are up or that they increase this time of year.

“As a matter of fact, the robberies have been down substantially for at least four years. The robberies are down, and we went to keep them that way,” he said.

He said businesses typically are busier this time of year, “and the businesses like to see more patrols because there simply are more people in the businesses, so we want to accommodate them and prevent anyone who is thinking about committing a robbery or theft to dissuade them from that.”

He said the upcoming Christmas holiday is much like the other holidays. “The more people are out on the roadway doing things, the more we want to make sure the rules of the road are being enforced and everyone’s safe out there. Really no different from any other holiday season.”

He said the department carries out the extra patrols “every year simply as a preventive measure.”

The city and Boardman Township did have similar armed robberies or attempted armed robberies Nov. 10 when men entered the Dollar General store, 1504 Oak St., Youngstown, and tried to rob it at 8:04 p.m., followed by an 8:55 p.m. robbery by two men at the Family Dollar store, 4030 Market St., Boardman.

In the Youngstown attempted robbery, an employee said one man was about 5-foot-6, wore a black, hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants, white tennis shoes and blue gloves.

He approached the employee while she was stocking shelves, grabbed and shoved her toward the cash register and demanded that she hurry. She told the man she did not have the key to open the register. Both men then left the store on foot.

In the Boardman incident, two men wearing black masks demanded access to the cash register and took about $100 before fleeing on foot. Both men reportedly had pistols, Boardman police said.

Officials from both departments said they did not know if the two robberies were connected. No arrests were made in either robbery.