It's one more sign of the tough economic times. Local restaurants say they're seeing more and more people taking advantage of their free Wi-Fi hot spots. But it's not helping business. Many don't even bother going inside.

Traveling salesman Brian Brooks says he knows all the free Wi-Fi hot spots in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and even Appomattox.

Brooks - "I probably use it once or twice a day."

We found him in his car outside the Panera Bread in Lynchburg using his laptop.

Brian Brooks, Traveling Salesman - "It's easy if I can just pull up, open my computer up. I might have two or three emails to check, maybe send a couple real quick, then I can close it and go on my way."

Managers say it's a growing trend especially in the early morning and late night hours.

Zandra Boone, Panera Bread Manager - "I used to come in and see no one and now when I come in at 5:00, I'll have two or three cars in the parking lot."

Wendy Williams, Panera Night Manager - "It's not a problem because they are in their cars but you know you come out at night and there's probably four or five people with there little glowing lights and you know sometimes they wave and sometimes they ignore you when you leave."

Managers say it's not really stealing because you can't steal what's free. But they would prefer to see the internet users come inside.

Randy McKavish, Uses Wi-Fi Hot Spots - "I would probably say more than 50% of the time, I don't go in and buy something."

But at least it's a way to get them into the parking lot.

McKavish - "I think it is definitely a sign of the times that you know businesses like this one that we're sitting here now will be offering these as just an added convenience to get people to come in their doors."

Workers at Panera Bread say it's not just happening in the parking lot. They also see many people come inside and sit in a booth to use the internet without buying anything.