Bibb County Sheriff's Office offers safety tips for shoppers, business owners

As the holiday retail season kicks off with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday shopping, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office offers tips to encourage safety among shoppers and business owners.

Safety tips for shoppers:

Always be sure to lock your vehicle and store valuables out of sight.

Park in well-lit areas and carry keys in your hand.

Stay alert to your surroundings and take a moment to look around for possible suspicious persons, vehicles and/or situations.

Before getting into your vehicle, take a look inside and around it. If anything looks suspicious or your vehicle has been burglarized, call law enforcement.

Keep your cell phone charged and with you while shopping.

Stay alert in crowded places.

Don't overload yourself with packages.

Be wary of strangers approaching you for any reason.

Be aware of what's going on around you to avoid potential threats.

Never leave personal belongings unattended.

As an added precaution, make sure you have a record of all your credit card numbers in a secure place at home in case they are ever lost or stolen.

Shop with friends or relatives instead of going out alone.

Make sure everyone remains alert and looks out for each other.

Safety tips for business owners:

Keep your business well-lit at night, inside and out.

Don't block store windows.

Keep delivery doors locked and know who is on the other side before opening the door.

Don't keep large sums of money in the store.

If you see something suspicious, call the Bibb County Sheriff's Office at 751-7500, your local law enforcement agency, or 911.

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 11:46 AM with the headline "Bibb County Sheriff's Office offers safety tips for shoppers, business owners ."