As shoppers hit the stores this Christmas, good deals aren’t the only things people should be on the lookout for, according to the Selma Police Department.

Police Chief William Riley said consumers should also be aware of the dangers that come with shopping, whether it’s done in the store or online.

He offered safety tips that can help people avoid being victims of theft.

“When you’re shopping at this time of year, you just have to be careful,” Riley said.

Getting personal information is one of the main ways criminals try to steal, according to Riley. Scammers might call pretending to be someone they’re not to get bank or credit card information.

The National Crime Prevention Council recommends shoppers wait until they are asked before taking out their credit card or checkbook, leaving thieves little to no opportunity to “shoulder surf” for account information.

“Some people have a tendency to walk up on you and start talking to you to distract you while you’re in the middle of doing things,” Riley said. “Then you forget to either put your card away or you leave it on the counter. Then, of course, that’s going to lead to a disaster.”

Riley also mentioned that consumers should avoid shopping late at night or alone. Those who choose to shop at night should not park in dark areas.

Online shopping also comes with dangers that can be avoided by updating security software and installing anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam software or a quality firewall, according to the National Crime Prevention Council.

The council also suggested that costumers not respond to requests to verify passwords or credit card information unless the customer has initiated the contact, because legitimate businesses don’t contact their buyers in that manner.

One of the best ways to guarantee that the company is trustworthy is to use secure websites for purchases, which include an icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address.

For more tips, visit the Selma Police Department’s website at http://www.selma-al.gov/police_department.html or the National Crime Prevention Council’s website at http://www.ncpc.org/.