With Black Friday just around the corner, the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) are coming out full force to make shoppers and local Knoxville residents aware of the dangers during the holiday shopping season. Black Friday is known for being one of the biggest shopping days of the year with stores offering deals on products at nearly a steal and thieves know this.

If you are planning a move to Knoxville and have decided to participate in annual Black Friday shopping events, our local Knoxville movers are excited for you, but want you to be careful and take heed to KPD advice. To better prepare you for a safe Black Friday shopping experience, All My Sons Moving & Storage Knoxville moving company has outlined KPD shopping safety tips.

1. Be aware of your surroundings – Black Friday can be chaotic, with shoppers scrambling to get a last product on the shelf. Rushed shopping results in products, people and money being moved around quickly and with that, shoppers can lose their self-awareness. Criminals are more likely to target those who seemed side-tracked, so be sure to pay attention to who and what is around you at all times.

2. Don’t distract yourself while walking to the car – As you are exciting a store after scoring a great Black Friday deal, don’t get on your phone and start texting or looking at social media. Keep your head up and be looking around for anyone walking toward you that may look suspicious.

3. Lock your car – This tip should be a no-brainer, but with the hustle and bustle of Black Friday, it’s an important step that could be overlooked as you’re rushing from one store to another.

4. Don’t leave belongings in plain sight – If you are leaving purchased items in your vehicle while you continue shopping, try hiding them under seats or a blanket. Better yet, try to make a trip home to drop items off so they are not tempting to criminals.

5. Carry your keys in your hand when walking to your car – Be prepared to enter your car immediately, lock the doors and exit the parking lot as soon as possible. Do not sit in your car and balance your checkbook or look at your phone. By doing so, this gives criminals the opportunity to approach you and your vehicle.

Our local Knoxville moving company hopes you get everything you’re searching for this Black Friday, but also wants you to have a safe experience while doing so. Good luck!