Beware of Black Friday criminals

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. Just as many consumers head to the malls, so are the criminals.

The number of robberies spike in December, and in Houston, mall crimes have increased by 27 percent in the past two years.

"People do not know that Harris County is a hub for organized retail thefts. These are strategic organizations that hire people to go out and strategically rob retailers," said executive director of Crime Stoppers Rania Mankarious.

Mankarious says that the crooks work together in groups.

"They will have their eye on someone in a store, notify someone when they're exiting a store, they can be notifying people when you pull out of a parking lot," Mankarious said.

Criminals watch and target anyone who looks distracted and strike when the person least expects it. Security expert Miguel Yanez says there are ways to limit that opportunity and avoid being a victim.

"You should always try to find the best possible parking spot. It's worth it to take 10 minutes out of your time to find a parking space," Yanez said.

Also, don't let your phone distract you. Keep it in a pocket, not a handbag, as a phone in a purse can be easily grabbed.

One thing Yanez recommends is what most people fail to do - make eye contact with someone who seems threatening.

"If you tend to confront them by eye contact, there's a likeliness that that person will say, "I've been spotted. I'm going to pick an easier victim," Yanez said.

Once you get into the car, you haven't made it home safe yet.

"The desperation of some of these criminals, they tend to not care if they see you in your vehicle or on the ground," Yanez said.

Thieves will smash car windows and snatch bags at stoplights, so put bags in the trunk or cover them up.

It's best to have a plan of defense just in case you feel threatened.

"The moment you freeze is the moment they take action and take your belongs or something worse," Yanez said.

Crime Stoppers, Houston police, and the Greater Houston Loss Prevention Alliance are hosting safety events around the city. For more information, visit Crime Stoppers' website.