Black Friday Shopping: Fairfax County Police Safety Tips

Plan to do some shopping on Black Friday?

Many savvy shoppers and bargain-hunters look forward to the thrill of shopping on Black Friday. Unfortunately, thieves also anticipate this busy season as they look to turn unaware shoppers into Black Friday victims. Fairfax County Police and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) provides these safety tips for Black Friday -- and this year's holiday shopping.

When you’re shopping or walking in public:

• Carry a cell phone
• Alert family/friends to your travel plans and when you may be home
• Have an escort, if possible
• Avoid carrying large sums of money
• Report suspicious people or activity to police
• Walk in well-lit, populated areas; avoid cut-through paths
• Avoid walking near hedges or bushes.
• Before leaving a bus/rail station, observe others

When you are in a parking lot:

• Lock car doors
• Park in well-lit areas
• Keep hands free, if possible
• Stay alert
• Have your keys in hand, ready to go
• Get into vehicle and lock your door immediately

Shopping in Stores

• Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or asking a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.
• Save all receipts. Print and save all confirmations from your online purchases. Start a file folder to keep all receipts together and to help you verify credit card or bank statements as they come in.
• Don’t flash the cash. Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise, such as onetime or multi-use disposable credit cards or money orders, including at online stores.
• Wait until asked by a cashier before taking out your credit card or checkbook. An enterprising thief would love to shoulder surf to get your account information.

Walking to and from your car

• Be informed about your surroundings. Use the free mobile app available from AlertID™ to receive alerts about registered sex offenders living and working in the vicinity of your shopping venue.
• Deter pickpockets. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.
• Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.
• Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package. The same applies if you are using mass transit.
• Do not leave packages visible in your car. Lock them in the trunk, or if possible, take them directly home.

If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from each other.

• Select a central meeting place.
• Teach them to know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.
• Have them memorize or keep your cell phone number handy.
• Keep up-to-date photos and accurate descriptions of each child electronically with AlertID’s My Family Wallet™. Should they go missing, this information can be sent quickly to law enforcement when every moment counts.

PHOTO: Pentagon City shopping center/Patch archive