The rush for holiday shopping has officially begun. It is a shorter shopping season this year for those who have waited until after Thanksgiving to begin their gift buying.

The constant running that surrounds the holiday season means shoppers need to practice common sense and have an awareness of their surroundings in order to make sure they have a safe experience, whether they are at a store or shopping online.

Thieves look for the opportunities the season brings. They know store security and police are busy keeping track of people who might be trying to shoplift or work some other scam. They prey on the easy targets, those who are tired from going from store to store. They know many tricks aimed at getting you to give up your information when you are online.

Here are a few things to keep in mind so you don’t become a victim.

Since more and more of us are making purchases online or are using our smartphones to pay when checking out from a brick-and-mortar location, it’s important to keep your transactions as safe as possible. For example, you can change your passwords often, make sure they are strong and only shop at websites you trust.

When you are shopping online, the Better Business Bureau and State Farm Insurance remind everyone that you need to watch out for fake websites, and make sure that websites you use are secure — the “S” in the “HTTPS” and a small lock icon on the address bar are indicators that the site is more likely to be secure. If you enter payment or personal information into a website with only “HTTP,” remember that it is not secure.

Also, State Farm says to stick with sites you have used before, and avoid unsecured or public Wi-Fi connections when you are shopping — use your personal hotspot or a VPN. Don’t overshare your personal information and remember that time-honored warning — if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Plus, if possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card — the dispute process likely will be easier to navigate.

Other time-honored tips remind everyone that you should keep your smartphone in a secure place at all times and use a passcode — that will make it much more difficult for a thief to access your information if your phone falls into the wrong hands.

When you go out, avoid carrying large sums of cash. Don’t carry a wallet or purse. If you do have to carry cash, distribute the amount among several different pockets. Better yet, pay with a credit card.

Keep receipts separate from bags of gifts. Receipts can sometimes contain account information that can be used in identity theft.

Shop in a group. There always is safety in numbers. Also, try to leave the mall or store with a group of people, especially when it is dark. Try to do shopping during the day, if possible, and shop at locations you are familiar with. Always avoid dark hallways or corners, and always carry your cell phone and make sure it is turned on.

Thieves also target vehicles loaded with holiday gifts. With that in mind, keep gifts in the trunk, and make sure all of the doors are locked. Don’t store valuable gifts in the backseat in plain view. Have your keys or fob in hand and ready to use when approaching your vehicle. Nearly every key fob has a panic button that will sound the horn of your car and flash the lights.

Don’t laden yourself with an armful of packages, and make sure you park in well-lit areas and as close to the store as possible.

Local police and sheriff’s departments will be increasing patrols in shopping areas in the coming weeks.

Consider having packages shipped to work, if possible, or have a neighbor or relative immediately get any packages that are delivered to your home. Porch pirates are always looking for packages left alone. In fact, Forbes magazine reports that more than 115 million packages worth an estimated value of $9 billion were taken in 2023.

The holiday season is about sharing presents. Make sure you don’t give a thief an easy gift.

Be safe, smart and aware of your surroundings while shopping.