Greenwood shoppers likely will run into police officers at local stores as they rush to grab Black Friday deals this weekend.
More than half of the city’s 51-person police force will be paid to work off-duty for local retailers over the weekend, Greenwood Police Department spokesperson Kortney Burrello said.
The officers, who will be in uniform, will be responsible for directing traffic, keeping an eye on the parking lots and monitoring inside the stores at Walmart and Greenwood Park Mall, she said. Off-duty officers also will be responsible for handling any police calls at those locations, Burrello said.
The arrangement is beneficial to the police department since it frees up on-duty officers to handle their regular responsibilities throughout the city, Burrello said.
“We’re grateful these department stores and retailers do this just for the fact that if they didn’t, our road officers would probably do nothing more than deal with the issues going on at the retailers,” she said.
Further south at Edinburgh Premium Outlets, shoppers can also expect to see police officers. Three off-duty officers will be directing traffic during the Black Friday rush, Edinburgh Police Chief David Mann said.
“It relieves the traffic congestion, makes it safer for all involved and lets our patrol cars get in and out sooner,” Mann said.
Police are advising shoppers to be patient and be extra aware of their surroundings. Shoppers should also plan ahead for where they want to park and shop, said Nathan Elrod, the director of marketing and business development for Edinburgh Premium Outlets.
The mall does occasionally come close to maximum parking, but police will help keep traffic cycling through. Being prepared is key for shoppers, Elrod said.
“We always recommend they have a plan when they get here,” he said.
That also means knowing what hours their favorite stores are open.
Unlike previous years, Edinburgh Premium Outlets will not be open all night. It will close at 2 a.m. Friday, before opening again at 6 a.m., Elrod said.
The change was a result of customer and retailer feedback, he said.
Individual store hours will vary, and Elrod recommends customers reach out to specific stores if they have questions about when they will be open.
Hours at the Greenwood Park Mall, which opens at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day for shopping, are the same as previous years, said David Dawson, director of marketing and business development. The mall will close at 1 a.m. Friday, before reopening from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. Most stores will follow those hours, but not all, so shoppers should check the hours of the stores they want to visit, he said.
Shoppers should also be careful with what items they leave in their vehicles, police said.
Police will be making extra patrols through parking lots, she said.
But thefts from vehicles in parking lots tend to increase over Black Friday and the holiday shopping season. Packages and other valuables should be left in a trunk or out of sight, and personal belongings shouldn’t be left inside vehicles, Burrello said.
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Some shopping malls have changed their hours for shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Here is a look at when local malls will be open:
- Greenwood Park Mall: 6 p.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Friday, and then 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday
- Edinburgh Premium Outlets: 6 p.m. Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday, and then 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday
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