The owner of a petrol station is o fed up with ongoing crime in his area that he has hired security guards armed with assault rifles.
Neil Patel hired the guards to protect his business, employees and customers after his store was ransacked by groups of hooded criminals.
In one raid the ATM was dragged out of the store and Mr Patel's car tyres were slashed.
Locals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are equally fed up with the levels of crime in the neighbourhood and many support Mr Patel's seemingly drastic plans.
He hired guards from private security firm Pennsylvania S.I.T.E. State Agents who are trained to carry shotguns and use the AR-15s in protection purposes.
Local resident Korrie Barry said she supports Mr Patel's decision to hire the armed guards and is sympathetic to anyone who "live in a bad area".
On the other hand, one resident said he opposed the petrol station owner's decision and that he didn't like the idea of children encountering heavily armed guards.
Mr Patel sympathised but plans to carry on with his security setup.
He said: "I listen to them, but...violent people, they carry the guns. I fear for the safety of my employees (as well as his customers)."
S.I.T.E Chief Andre Boyer said: "My guards go to training every other week, they're proficient with [guns] and with their taser, they know the law."
He added: "We have a right to protect this property by any means necessary, and whatever force necessary to be used to protect it."
According to Mr Patel he hasn't had any problems with crime since ramping up his security.
Across the city violent crime is up about three per cent and overall crime has spike by 23 per cent since last year.
One resident described their hometown a "war zone" on social media.
On November 25 a Philadelphia parking officer was shot in the head during a horrific attack.
The 37-year-old traffic warden, who has not been identified, was shot at point-blank range in broad daylight.
CCTV caught the horrific moment the male officer was shot and collapsed to the ground as eyewitnesses rushed to help the traffic warden.
Emergency services were called to the scene and the man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is now in a stable condition and should make a full recovery, according to police.
Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said: "It's bold. It's brazen and something we're definitely going to do everything we can to solve immediately.
"We believe he was the intended target,' he continued. 'We have some witnesses saying a car pulled up, shots were fired, and then a car pulled away."
Police officers are unsure if the man received a parking ticket and was acting out of revenge - as they look to discover the motivation behind the heinous attack.
