After reports of two people who said they were drugged while barhopping in downtown Melbourne, area bars said they are working with police to ensure their patrons' safety.

On Dec. 24 and Jan. 20, two women told police they had been slipped date-rape drugs while drinking at bars along East New Haven Road, records showed.

Police said they have no known suspects, although the investigation is ongoing.

The incidents garnered attention after Hurricane Creek Saloon posted a notice on social media Sunday.

More:2 say they were drugged after visiting downtown Melbourne bars

"It has come to our attention ... that there is a concern regarding date drugs being utilized by people visiting the downtown area," the statement said. "We take this very seriously and want everyone to know that we are doing everything we can to prevent this behavior."

The Hurricane Creek Saloon was among the bars the women said they had visited. Owner Randy Bennett said he first heard that in the days after the posted notice.

"Nobody has come to us ... and made us aware of any direct claims," he said. "Working in this industry, everybody hears rumors ... and we wanted to be responsible and hop out front and tell people, you are safe when you come here."

One of the women also mentioned visiting Mainstreet Pub and Restaurant. General Manager Lena Genovese said she reached out to police after hearing of it from media reports.

"They said she'd had one beer here and moved on," Genovese said. "We take incidents like this very seriously, even if they don't occur at Mainstreet Pub, because downtown Melbourne is our home."

Genovese, Bennett and other area club owners are working closely with police and have security measures in place to ensure the safety of their guests, they said.

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Precautions include state-of-the-art cameras scanning the premises and trained security guards on site. Melbourne police conduct regular patrols of the downtown area and are in close contact with bar staff and owners.

"We're definitely going to keep an eye on it and keep everyone feeling safe at our establishment," Genovese said. "Our customers are our family ... We're always going to look out for you."

Bennett said the response to the notice has been overwhelmingly positive.

"We did this to be proactive, to let people know: party responsibly, pay attention," he said. "To tell people, you are safe when you come here and you can have a good time."

Bennett said it was a warning as much as a public service announcement.

"The numskulls now know they're on notice. They know that we're watching for them," Bennett said, "and they know they're not welcome."

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Ways to Protect Yourself

Melbourne police offered several tips to protect yourself during a night on the town:

Do not leave your drink unattended.

If you get up to use the bathroom, dance or make a call, take your drink with you.

Do not accept drinks from someone you don't know or trust.

If you let someone buy you a drink, go to the bar to order it and always carry it yourself.

Know what you are drinking.

If it smells or looks funny, do not drink it.

Trust your instincts.

If you feel sick, dizzy or lightheaded, report it and get help immediately.

Eric Rogers is a breaking news reporter for FLORIDA TODAY and TCPalm.

Contact Rogers at 772-978-2224,

or eric.rogers@tcpalm.com.

Twitter: @EricRogersFT