Checking for the best sales before leaving for holiday shopping could save money.

Taking the proper safety steps before, during and after holiday shopping could save much more than that.

During a program Saturday at the Civil War Museum, Kenosha Police Crime Prevention Officers Jeff Wamboldt and Ron Francis listed many precautions people should keep in mind during their shopping trips this holiday season.

Getting ready to shop

A key to staying safe is simply being alert to what is going on around you and staying aware of your surroundings, Wamboldt said.

“We want you to be a hard target,” Wamboldt said.

That awareness starts with planning shopping trips, including which stores to visit and how to get to them.

Shoppers should also keep their gas tanks at least one-quarter full and have their cell phones charged.

“Your cell phone is your life line. You need that in case of an emergency,” Wamboldt said.

An empty house means an easy house for robbers to hit, Wamboldt said. Shoppers are encouraged to keep their lights, or even televisions, on while they are out.

Shoppers who plan to leave their purses in their cars should put them in the trunk before they get to the store — not do that in the parking lot where they can be observed.

Purse, bag protection

Shopping bags and purses can offer additional opportunity for thieves.

The officers said shoppers should not carry numerous bags but instead should place them in their car trunks.

They discourage the use of large purses. Purses should be small enough to be carried like a football, which makes them a harder target, they advised. Purses should not be held only by the shoulder straps or with flaps held to the outside of the body.

“We don’t want you to be vulnerable,” Wamboldt said.

In case of robbery

If someone demands your items from a distance and is holding a weapon, the officers suggest throwing those goods to one side and running in the opposite direction.

If the robbery happens up close, the materials should be handed to the robber.

In the parking lot

Knowing where your car is parked is important so robbers do not see a person wandering around in parking lots.

“You’re saving time, and you’re less vulnerable,” Wamboldt said.

Drivers with keyless entry should wait until they are near their car to use the device so others do not have advance warning on where your car is.

People should also lock their vehicles immediately upon entering their vehicle.

The officers also discouraged people from parking next to paneled vans, which can make quick grabs of people easier.

Shoppers should also be aware of potential holiday scams and keep the cash they carry to a minimum.

Getting home

If your residence looks out of sorts when you return, it could be tempting to run inside and check on the situation. But the officers said people should call the police first.

If faced with an attacker, Francis said all people should strike toward the eyes or throat and then run away.

And even if everything went fine during a shopping trip, Francis said people should check their receipts to insure no undue charges were entered or cash back was requested when none was needed.

Kay Wright, from Des Plaines, Ill., said she appreciated the lessons from the presentation.

“I don’t usually put my purse in the trunk until I get to store, but now I think it should be done back at home,” Wright said.