As shoppers look for deals, thieves look for targets

Faye McGuire knows that holiday shopping is fun and finding deals is exciting, but she doesn’t let that get in the way of vigilance.

“I’m very concerned for safety. I try to be very careful and watch where I park. Try to make sure I park near lights if possible, try to make sure I know exactly where my car is so when I come back out, I can get in quickly and easily,” she said.

With an early sunset time and so many people out, the holiday shopping season is the perfect time for thieves to move unnoticed. It’s a fact McGuire thought about while standing in line at Best Buy.

“We had to stand in line probably close to an hour and I was thinking about what an opportunity it would be if anyone was wanting to break into some cars,” she said.

Law enforcement always send reminders during the holiday season and Fayetteville police reminded their Facebook followers to “park smart.”

Other tips include not carrying large amounts of cash, avoiding dark or secluded areas, putting packages in the trunk of the car and having keys in hand and ready before exiting a store.

Many Thursday evening chose to shop in groups.

“Watch out and keep my eyes open and aware of my surroundings. I’m going to stick with my sister, just to stay safe,” said shopper Christina Murphy.

For most shopping Thursday, safety wasn’t an afterthought.

“I try to keep everything close and tight to me and I have my keys ready in hand before I walk out the door, especially if it’s dark since it’s getting dark earlier,” said shopper Christina Starks.

Authorities say that confidence can deter a criminal from thinking a person is an easy target.

“Just, you know, make sure you’re confident. I think being confident is one of the most important things of staying safe,” said shopper Rachael Hiltscher.