(MOBILE, Ala.) Thanksgiving night, employees of Wal-Mart and Target will push back their plates, say so long to their families, and head into work.
The stores have decided to use Thanksgiving to get a jump on Black Friday shopping.
But employees and shoppers won't be the only one cutting the holiday short.
So will some law enforcement.
"We are having to adjust some hours and adjust some personnel so we'll be ready when they start," said Mobile Police Corporal Chris Levy.
The Mobile Police Department allowed officers to volunteer for the extra hours, and many stepped up for the extra work.
And you never know where you'll find them.
Or maybe you won't find them at all!
"We have officers that will be working that will be in plain cloths that will be walking through major shopping areas," said levy.
And those parking lot observation towers.
Is there really anyone in that thing?
If it's up there, says Levy, it's occupied.
"Those things are manned! They have people in there who are monitoring the area, monitoring people, monitoring safety, they have radios and communicate with the ground officers and they can move officers to certain areas if they are needed."
But you can't depend upon the police for everything.
That's why, if you're going shopping on Thanksgiving or Black Friday or BOTH, you're gonna have to look out for yourself!
Shopper Jean Williams has been a victim of crime.
"I don't carry a purse," she said. "I keep my money on me. But I don't carry a purse on me."
And Bridgett McDonald has a plan.
"I try to park my car under a street light," she said, "and I am careful when I leave a store, making sure no one is following me."
