The holiday shopping craze is now underway in cities across Illinois.
CherryVale Mall near Rockford is no exception.
Cherry Valley Police Chief Mike Neville says officers are keeping an eye out for shoplifters and parking lot skirmishes.
"Through our experience we have found, over the years, people will park in the fire lanes. What they are actually doing is they are sitting there waiting for their friends to come out of the mall with an armload of products they have taken from the store," Neville said.
Consumers are getting used to earlier and earlier start times. Neville says he relies on officers to volunteer for shifts before assigning them to ensure they get to spend at least some time with family during the busy weekend.
