SALISBURY—Authorities are concerned about a recent uptick in violent crime in Salisbury. Salisbury police say gangs are responsible for a rash of shootings in just the past week. Now, they’re increasing patrols with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office to stop the violence.

Neighbors who live near Wilson Road, where there was a shooting Thursday night, are used to hearing gunshots.

"It was something that we do hear every so often around here, and it's not something you go outside to check out,” said Nathan Taylor, who lives nearby.

That shooting happened feet away from Salisbury High School and is one of more than four shootings in less than a week.  

"It's not random. They'll drive by, they know whose home it is or who they've been having a beef with,” said Capt. Sheila Lingle with the Salisbury Police Department.

Early Sunday morning, a 17 year old was shot in the pink after he told police a car pulled up and someone called out. On Friday, police say two men walked into a hospital, one shot in his leg, the other shot in his hand. They told police it all happened on the 500 block of West McCubbins Street, which is beside Salisbury High School.

On Wednesday night, Police Officer M.L. Dishman witnessed a man shooting out of his car window at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue and East Liberty Street. Police say the person behind that crime is Demetrious Lane, who is behind bars at the Rowan County Detention Center.

The shootings are all within a few miles of each other and police say they are gang-related. Salisbury police are now increasing their patrols overnight, targeting high crime areas with the help of the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.

"Victims tell you very minimal information or the witnesses will, and we actually need people to come forward and talk,” said Capt. Lingle.

As law enforcement works to connect the dots, they’re hopeful aggressive patrols will help keep crime levels down.

"You don't know what you're getting into, you know the other night we had something on Caldwell Street,” said Capt. Lingle, "Rifle in the backseat had a machete up under his seat."

Police say an armed robbery, which happened at the Days Inn on Sept. 10, is not connected to the string of downtown violence. If you have any information regarding the recent shootings, call Salisbury Police at (704) 638-5333.