JACKSON, MISS– The table is barely cleared from Thanksgiving Dinner before people are hitting the stores to start that Christmas shopping. Everyone knows that–especially crooks.
Attorney General Jim Hood reminded Mississippians of his Consumer Safety Tips for Holiday Shopping Brochure on Monday, filled with ideas and things to keep in mind when you’re shopping this holiday season.
Many stores open Thursday night ahead of the Black Friday sales.
“Black Friday is the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, often regarded as the beginning of the
Christmas shopping season. It is considered one of the busiest, if not the busiest shopping day for retailers,” said Hood in the brochure. “Be warned that limited items may actually be available at the promoted price. In recent years, most major retailers have opened extremely early and offered promotional sales to kick off the holiday shopping season.”
Hood outlined a few personal safety tips to keep in the forefront of the mind while shopping this season:
- Avoid walking alone- Call for a security escort if necessary, especially at night. Whenever possible, use the buddy system. If you are alone and feel you are being followed, change direction and walk towards a populated area.
- Be aware of your surroundings- Avoid unpopulated and poorly or unlit areas after dark.
- Avoid carjacking- Park in well-lighted area, near sidewalks or walkways and avoid parking near dumpsters, woods, large vans or trucks, or anything else that limits your visibility. Try to park in a garage where there is an attendant. Use valet parking if available. Never leave valuables in plain view, even if the car is locked. Put them in the trunk or somewhere out of site. Even if you are rushed, look around before you get in or out of your vehicle and stay alert to your surroundings.
Click HERE for the full brochure of safety tips this shopping season.
