The slaying of armored-car guard Carlos Alvarado, shot by robbers inside Dadeland Mall, underscores the danger associated with the industry.

According to the FBI, Monday's incident is at least the 10th armored-car robbery in Miami-Dade and Broward this year. Last year, 16 such robberies were recorded.

The Dadeland robbery is also the 15th statewide, making Florida the most dangerous state for armored-car personnel -- the second-highest tallies are in California and Arizona, with five each through Nov. 26.

''It's a very high-risk job,'' said Chris McGoey, a security expert based in Los Angeles. ``The danger is extreme. They definitely have a target on their backs.''

VAGUE DESCRIPTION

As of Tuesday evening, Alvarado's death remained unsolved.

As family prepared to bury Alvarado in his native Peru, Miami-Dade detectives continued hunting for the two robbers but were tight-lipped about the investigation.

The homicide bureau had only released a vague description of the killers: two men in dark clothes. They did cancel a bulletin for a white 2000 Lincoln sedan originally believed involved.

''We're continuing to look at all angles and all leads. We urge the community: Anyone that might know who was involved, please contact Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers,'' said Miami-Dade Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, a spokesman.

Alvarado, 51, of Dunbar Armored, was mowed down with a flurry of shots inside Dadeland's Express clothing store Monday morning, scattering shoppers and shutting down part of the mall.

Two men, one reportedly carrying a money bag, were seen running from the mall. A second guard was inside the armored car. The FBI's Violent Crime Task Force is assisting Miami-Dade homicide detectives.

Armored-car guards face daily dangers.

Though most wear bulletproof vests and carry guns, their safety is often in jeopardy because of their routines. Many armored-car companies schedule deliveries and pickups of money at the same time daily so customers, such as retail stores and restaurants, can have bank deposits prepared.

''Sometimes you can set your clock on them,'' said security expert McGoey. ``If anybody is watching them, they can pick up their routine very quickly.''

A Dunbar executive Tuesday stressed that the company is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. ''Our thoughts and prayers right now are with the family of the guard that was killed,'' said Sean Gibbons, Dunbar's vice president of communications.

STORE STILL CLOSED

At Dadeland, shoppers flocked back despite the highly publicized shooting, but Express remained closed.

Some retail employees said they were disappointed the mall was not shut down after the gunfire. Guess clothing co-manager Brenda Lecama learned about the shooting from a shaky shopper who witnessed the murder.

''My concern is [Dadeland Mall executives] don't try to secure customers or the merchants,'' she said. ``They don't come to see if we're OK.''

Anyone with information can call Miami-Dade's homicide bureau at 305-471-2400 or Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers at 305-471-8477.

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