It's that time of the year again, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and many people are preparing for a night filled with family and fun. With Thanksgiving comes the retail holiday Black Friday with unbeatable sales that attracts consumers with the hopes of purchasing many of their Christmas holiday gifts. Many of the sales start on Thanksgiving night which forces many families to reschedule their Thanksgiving dinner for another night in order for them to be a part of this special event. Because of this special event, many retail stores will be crowded, tensions will be high among customers, and the possibility for sporadic conflicts with other customers and even injury is increased. There will also be an increased risk of robbery as well for many thieves will be looking to pry on unsuspecting shoppers in an attempt to make victims out of the them. Because of this, it's important to know some very important information about how to be safe during Black Friday so you can have a fun and joyful shopping experience. Below are some safety tips provided by The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) on the National Capital Region website that will keep you safe during Black Friday.

When Shopping in Stores

Shopping in stores is the path many customers choose when purchasing items on Black Friday. When shopping in stores during Black Friday, however, it's always important to be prepared. Only buy what you can carry and bring a friend along with you if they are able so they can help you carry your items to your car. If you are alone ask a store employee to help you so no one tries to grab something of yours and run off with it. Do not flash any cash during checkout and do not take out any credit cards until asked to do so by the cashier for many thieves would take that opportunity to steal credit card information. Finally, save all of your receipts, even from your online purchases, and keep them together so you can verify which credit cards or bank statements they belong to.

When Shopping With Children

Shopping on Black Friday with children can be scary, you can be separated from them very easily and the risk of kidnapping is high with the large crowds. Always make a plan to prepare for the event that you and your child are separated. Select a central meeting place for you two to meet and teach them how to ask security or employees for assistance. Give them your cell phone number and help them memorize it in case they lose it. Finally always keep up-to-date information about your child including pictures and an accurate description of them. National Capital Region states that AlertID's My Family Wallet is a great source to have your child's information on in the event that you are separated from them as the information can be sent electronically to law enforcement in order to help find your child faster.

When Walking To and From Your Car

One may not usually be worried about walking to or from their car on a normal day, but on Black Friday people can be robbed or attacked by doing just that. When you are walking to or from your car from a retail store during Black Friday, always be aware of your surroundings. Always check around your car and inside the back seat to make sure no one is lying in wait to attack you. Always keep your purse or pocketbook close to you to deter pickpockets and have your car keys in hand when approaching your car. Never leave items or packages visible inside your car, put them in the trunk and, if possible, take them home immediately to prevent anyone from trying to break into your car the steal them. Finally, if you or anyone in your party sees an unattended bag or package tell a security guard or store employee immediately.

When Shopping Online

Shopping online is a lot easier than fighting through the crowds to get the items you want. Many stores have the same items online at the same price, so it makes more sense to just stay at home and order over your computer. However, there are some safety checks you should take before shopping online on Black Friday to make sure your information is kept safe. First, always make sure your security software is up to date to help prevent against online attacks. Keep your personal information private and make sure your passwords are secured, do not respond to any requests that ask you to "verify" your password as legitimate business will not ask you to do so. Finally, always use secure websites to make purchases and shop with companies you are familiar with. If you shop with a company you have not done business with before, do a background check to make sure they are legit.

Black Friday and Pre-Black Friday sales can be fun and joyful, but they can also be hectic and stressful. Making plans to make sure you and your loved ones are safe while out shopping is important as anything can happen. Also remember that a lot of the Pre-Black Friday sales are on Thanksgiving this year, so don't forget to give thanks for what you have while you are out shopping. Finally, don't forget to thank the various retail associates that are working on Thanksgiving to make sure that the Black Friday sales take place. While tensions are going to be high, do not take your frustrations out on them as they are just doing their jobs. Have a fun and safe holiday week.