➡️ Gloucester Township Police wants you to STAY SAFE on Black Friday! Here are practical, proven Black Friday safety tips to help you shop smart and stay safe—whether you're hitting stores in person or shopping online.➡️
✅ In-Store Shopping Safety
1. Shop with a buddy – There’s safety in numbers, especially in crowded parking lots.
2. Park in well-lit areas – Choose spots under lights and close to store entrances when possible. Avoid parking next to vans or large vehicles that block visibility.
3. LOCK YOUR CAR and hide purchases – Put packages in the trunk (not on seats) before you head to your next store. Thieves watch for people returning to their cars.
4. Keep your wallet/phone secure – Use a cross-body bag, front-pocket wallet, or keep your phone in a zipped pocket. Pickpockets love Black Friday crowds.
5. Don’t overload yourself – Carrying 10 bags makes you an easy target. Make trips to the car (with a friend) or use store pickup lockers.
6. Stay aware of your surroundings – Avoid staring at your phone while walking through parking lots. Look confident and scan around you.
7. Have your keys ready – Don’t stand next to your car fumbling for keys. Have them in your hand as you approach.
8. Trust your instincts – If someone or something feels off, leave the area and alert store security or police.
9. Travel in groups at night/early morning – Especially for doorbuster events that start at midnight or 5 a.m.
10. Don’t leave kids unattended – Crowds are chaotic; hold hands or use child locator apps/airtags.
✅ Online Shopping Safety
1. Shop only on secure sites – Look for “https://” and the padlock icon. Never enter card info on http sites.
2. Use strong, unique passwords – Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
3. Avoid public Wi-Fi for purchases – Hackers set up fake “FreeStoreWiFi” hotspots on Black Friday.
4. Use a credit card (not debit) – Credit cards have better fraud protection and $0 liability in most cases.
5. Watch out for phishing emails/texts – Fake “Your package is delayed” or “Confirm your Walmart order” messages spike on Black Friday.
6. Stick to reputable retailers – Too-good-to-be-true deals on random sites are usually scams.
7. Use virtual card numbers if available – Many banks (Capital One, Citi, etc.) let you generate one-time card numbers.
8. Track your orders – Legitimate retailers provide tracking. If a site says “email us for tracking,” it’s probably fake.
✅ General Tips
- Charge your phone fully and bring a portable charger.
- Carry only what you need (one credit card + ID, minimal cash).
- Take photos of your parked car (level + spot number).
- Set a budget beforehand so you’re not distracted by impulse buys.
Stay alert, shop smart, and have a safe (and successful) Black Friday!
