Black Friday brings thousands of people out to stores for the best deals of the year, but the holiday also sees an increase in thefts and car break ins.

Michael DePaolis with Arrow Security suggests keeping your eyes open, your belongings close, and your cars locked if you’ll be shopping this Friday.

“Black Friday and the entire thanksgiving weekend bring out tremendous crowds,” DePaolis said. “You know, the sales are probably the best all year round. So, the crowds come out, and people just become targets."

DePaolis says they see a lot of crime during this season.

“We see a lot of theft in parking lots,” DePaolis said. “And also, a lot of smash and grabs, or grab and runs out of stores, especially high valued items.”

He says shoppers should plan ahead, don’t leave valuables in sight, park near a streetlamp, and stay off your phone.

Although thousands of people will be out Friday, many people try to avoid the crowds altogether. Deals often last longer than one day and online shopping is a convenient way to stay inside.

However, even online shoppers need to keep an eye out for scams. DePaolis says to watch for scams, check website security, and use secure payments.

“You have to watch out for everybody around you,” DePaolis said. “It's sad that we live in that kind of time, but there's a lot of people out there looking for opportunities. You don’t want to be a target.”