Officials this holiday season want to make sure thieves don't get away with people's big purchases and stocking stuffers.

Some stores such as Kohl's and Best Buy are accommodating last-minute shoppers by having extended hours this weekend.

When filling up the cart, it could be easy to let your guard down, especially if there is still a lot of stuff to buy.

Police have a few safety tips.

A common mistake is that people will put their purse in their shopping cart, which allows easier access for someone to get away with their wallet or other personal belongings.

Police say to carry little cash and use one credit card that they can monitor, and never put the shopping bags down and leave them unattended.

"We want to keep our family members safe, we don't want anything to happen to them," says Lt. Robert Kalamaras, of the Fairfield Police Department. "So we encourage everybody to just be aware of their surroundings to and from the stores and we hope that everyone has a great holiday."

Police also say when done shopping, be parked in a well-lit area, and leave with another customer if possible.

Head straight to your car, don't dilly-dally, pack up everything quickly, and then hit the road.