As many shoppers plan to shell out for the busiest shopping day of the year, police officers in South Florida are working overtime to make sure customers are safe.
In Hialeah, the police department has set up a task force to protect shoppers and keep their eyes on the crooks that will try and rip them off. The city's annual holiday season public safety initiative is working toward this effort.
"We are the safest large city in the state of Florida and we plan on keeping it that way," Hialeah Police Chief Mark Overton said.
From their mobile command unit, officers can communicate with officers from other counties to keep citizens safe.
"This is our attempt to reduce the opportunity for crime and also the desire in the criminals minds knowing that we're going to be out here," Overton said.
Police officers in patrol cars, on motorcycles and in unmarked vehicles will also be on high alert for traffic violations with more people walking through parking lots and crossing streets to get to shopping areas.
Officers remind shoppers that the most important tool they have against thieves is common sense. They remind people to be aware of their surroundings and to keep purses and wallets closed and out of sight.