Black Friday Comes to Millburn-Short Hills

If you're heading out for Black Friday today, there are deals to be found in Millburn-Short Hills.

People will be heading to various area stores to take part in what is the biggest shopping day of the year, including the Mall at Short Hills and the downtown area. The parking lot was already filled at the mall on Wednesday.

Many downtown businesses will also be offering discounts and deals to shoppers on Friday. Schultz Fur is offering 35 percent off in its store and offering free shearling gloves on purchases over $500. Jia is offering 25 percent off, Deborah Gilbert Smith is having a pre-holiday sale and Roxy is offering 25 percent off, including on sale items. Roxy is having an early bird special on Friday with an extra 10 percent off from 9-11 a.m. Un de find is offering 50 percent off, and Red Carpet has 50 percent off a selection of dresses.

Parking downtown also is free in the lots, which started on Wednesday. It'll be free through Jan. 1.

The holiday season also means shoppers need to take extra care while in the local stores. Millburn Police Det. Ed de la Fuente said people should take care not to "flash cash." They shouldn't take out all of their cash at once.

Also, women should keep their purses zipped and close to them. "They should keep it in front of them with the strap around their body," de la Fuente said.

If shoppers are using a stroller or shopping cart, it's important not to keep a purse in the cart, he said. It can be taken from there, and it only takes a second to happen, he said.

If someone should steal a purse or wallet, the victim should notify police immediately and then call their credit card company, he said. "A thief will try to use (the card) immediately," he said. "If the credit card company knows, we cna find (the thief) while the card is being used."

Safety also extends to the parking lots. People should not have anything like shopping bags or a GPS device visible in a car, de la Fuente said. Also, drivers should lock the doors of their cars, even if it is parked in the driveway at home.

Also, people should remain aware of their surroundings in a parking lot, he said. Shoppers should have their keys ready when they leave the mall and get into the parking lot, he said. They should not be searching for their keys in a bag when they get into the parking lot.