A message from the Newport News Police Department

Since the beginning of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the unofficial start to a bustling holiday shopping season. The term “Black Friday” was coined in the 1960s to mark the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. Back when accounting records were kept by hand, red ink indicated a loss, and black ink indicated a profit. The black in Black Friday came from the reference of stores moving from “red” to “black” records.

This year, it is anticipated that over 152 million people in the United States plan to shop on “Black Friday” and they will spend $9.7 billion. Newport News is home to many of the more popular Black Friday retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy and more. For that reason, the Newport News Police Department would like to share some important safety tips for your shopping security:

• Avoid shopping alone. If you have to shop alone, try shopping during the day and always be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep your packages in your trunk.
• Park in a well-lit area. 
• Never leave your car running. 
• When you get in your car – lock the doors immediately.
• Do not use walk-up ATMs – go into a store. 
• Don’t overload your arms with packages. 
• Have your keys out and ready when you get to your car. 
• Do not carry a lot of cash. 
• Make sure you have a list of all your credit cards and phone numbers in case they are lost or stolen. 
• Keep your children in sight at all times.
• Have a meeting place if you are separated from your children and teach your children what to do if approached by a stranger (i.e., report to a store clerk). 
• Report any suspicious activity. 
• Always lock your car. 

Shopping online is a good alternative but does come with some risks as well. Here are a few tips for online shopping: 

• Use a credit card vs. a debit card. 
• If possible, use a disposable credit card, i.e., prepaid card or gift card. 
• Always use a secure site beginning with https:// vs. http://. 
• Never “store” your information. 

Happy shopping and happy holidays from the NNPD. Stay safe!