Black Friday marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, it's also a time when shoppers need to be on the look out. Not for the sales, but for their own safety.

It's that time of the year again, when the inside of your car looks more like a store. In parking lots everywhere, people are loading their vehicles with bags and bags full of holiday gifts. But be careful, because when you hit your next store it's also a breeding ground to get robbed.

"With the economy so bad people are desperate to get gifts for family and will go to any lengths to get it done, " says Nancy Yablonski of Greenfield

It happened Thanksgiving night, in a parking lot outside the Hampshire Mall in Hadley. While shoppers were inside crossing gifts off their list, someone broke into several cars. Police are now urging everyone to lock up their vehicles, and hide your purchases. just like Emily Krzanowski and her family do every year.

"We lock the cars up good, and try to cover up presents, make sure they are safe, " explains Krzanowski.

Such break-ins have been reported in many area's across Western Mass in the past few months.But with the holiday shopping season in full gear...you need to be that much more aware. Take this car for instance, are camera caught someone leaving their door wide open. A prime target for thieves, and a prime example of how times have changed.

"I don't think it's right, it's hard for people, but it's just as hard for the people that bought it and to have it taken away from them is just awful, " adds Kranowski.