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Today's lead editorial.

The business was called Angie's Hats, but the proprietor's name was Betty Thomas — Miss Betty, for those who knew her best.

In her unassuming shop in northeast Greensboro, Thomas sold colorful hats with bows and ribbons and flowers — the classy, Sunday go-to-meeting kind they call "crowns."
Her friends say she was a giving woman with a soothing smile and a gentle soul.
So, when she was killed at her shop during a robbery on Sept. 25, the act seemed especially cold and senseless.

Why this woman, of all people?

Nothing can replace the loss, but when police announced two arrests in the case on Feb. 5, friends, family and neighboring merchants in the Pyramids Village shopping center at least could feel hopeful that justice would be served.
That breakthrough came among several high-profile arrests by Greensboro police in recent weeks: a double homicide on High Point Road; an armed robbery on Pisgah Church Road; six arrests and 24 cases cleared in a string of East Market Street robberies in only a matter of weeks.

Police also arrested four suspects in connection with as many as nine bank robberies linked to the notorious "Bluetooth bandits."

Chief Tim Bellamy credits the progress to a lot more than good fortune. He credits dedicated new units that have targeted robberies and youth gangs. He also says an additional $500,000 in city money has funded overtime shifts for more patrols and more time for detectives to work cases. "We have those guys out there seven days a week," he says.

Assistant Chief Dwight Crotts cites collaboration with other agencies, including the High Point Police Department, the FBI and the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, as crucial factors.
Finally, Bellamy noted that increased staffing among SBI analysts has speeded the processing of key ballistics and DNA evidence. Of course, the $500,000 is only a temporary fix. Longer term, the City Council will need to find permanent funding for additional personnel. The department is 41 sworn officers short.

And ideally, there wouldn't be so many crimes to solve in the first place.

But Bellamy says the arrests have raised morale on the force. More importantly, he says, the community is stepping up to help. Crimestoppers calls and other information furnished by citizens were especially instrumental in the Angie's Hats case.

Problems remain with response times, which are linked in part to the thinning ranks of officers. Maybe a planned audit by an outside consultant will uncover greater efficiencies, even at current staffing levels.

Of course, the very best policing involves stopping crimes before they happen, which means vigilant friends and neighbors as well as a strong police presence. Aside from the obvious needs in manpower, the City Council is considering whether officers ought to be allowed to drive their patrol cars home as visible, round-the-clock deterrents.

Meanwhile, it's encouraging to see citizens and police join hands to begin to take back their streets and reclaim their neighborhoods.