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HPD: Stay safe while holiday shopping beyond Black Friday deals

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With Thanksgiving just a few days a way, and Christmas right around the corner lots of folks will be traveling to see family and friends, and many of us will be hitting the stores looking for the best deals.

But even if you're shopping from the comfort of your own home, and having packages delivered the Helena Police Department has some tips on how you can be safe this holiday season.

Sergeant Berkley Conrad says, "Well I think preparation starting before you leave the house, you want to clean out your trunk to make space for items that you are going to be buying. Also maybe grab a blanket if you don't have a trunk so you can cover those items in your vehicle once you are out and about shopping you should probably think about the location of where you are parking, make sure you are in an area where there is probably surveillance cameras from the store, that there's people around. Travel very lightly with just some identification with credit cards and a check, things that can be traced, cash can't be traced once it is stolen."

Sergeant Conrad added the best way to protect your packages is to require a signature instead of having them left on your front porch, or make sure someone is home when the packages are delivered.

He says, "Security cameras help us out greatly if you do have a theft of those items to help review and find suspect information. I know that people are going to be very busy and excited on Friday but they need to just kind of take a second look around be aware of their environment what they're doing and think beyond black Friday deals."