Black Friday safety tips

Although most shoppers have mapped out their game plans for Black Friday, there are still some schmucks out there who are mapping out ways to steal from you.

So, true or false: The crowd at the Pocatello Shopko grew so rowdy one year during Black Friday, shoppers broke the doors before the store even opened.

True.

So, it’s important to remember, even with all of the chaos, there’s more likely of a chance for distractions.

The Pocatello Police Department’s Lt. Paul Manning would like to remind ladies to keep their purses close to them at all times and to make sure everyone is locking their car doors whenever they leave.

“Most criminals don’t work alone — they work in teams,” Manning said. “So, they are trying your car doors, or they are in the store and trying to distract you, and they may even distract you for just that one second and grab your purse.”

But what about men?

True or false: Men’s wallets are safe if they keep them in their pockets.

False.

Manning recommends men to keep their wallets in their front pockets while shopping.

“There are some that are very good at pick-pocketing, even to the point where I have seen them take razor blades and X-ACTO knives, and they will slit the pocket and the wallet will literally fall out and nobody will even notice,” Manning warned.

Last one. True or false: you should always carry a lot of cash on you. You know, just in case.

False.

Manning advises shoppers to carry as minimal amount of cash on them as possible.

“A lot of times we find the purse and the identification cards in the dumpster, and the only thing missing is the cash,” Manning said.

So, shoppers, you can still have fun. Just remember to be safe.