Black Friday Madness and Crimes Mapped on SpotCrime
Isn’t it ironic how the day after we celebrate being thankful for what we have, we indulge, and sometimes become violent, over material items we want. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Christmas season. With Christmas comes shopping and with shopping comes Black Friday.
Over the past couple of years, retailers have begun to open their doors earlier on Black Friday - as early as midnight to give shoppers the opportunity to shop the entire day. This year, some stores will be opening on Thanksgiving Day!
For some reason, these earlier hours, paired with ridiculous sales, have led to crazier and larger crowds. In some places, lines start forming in front of stores up to weeks before Black Friday.
Unfortunately, the crazy crowds have brought about some pretty serious crimes. So, if you do decided to make it out this coming Black Friday and can avoid being trampled by the crowd, you should be aware of the craziness that has ensued on recent previous Black Fridays. We’ve listed a few of the crimes below. But first, a few tips we have for the ambitious Black Friday shopper.
Madison, WI Toys-R-Us: A 21-year-old woman was arrested Thursday night when she threatened other shoppers while waiting in line at the Toys R Us store. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Sacramento, CA Arden Fair Mall Macy’s: A man was stabbed outside of a Sacramento mall in an apparent gang-related incident as shoppers were in front of Macy's. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Fayetteville, NC Cross Creek Mall: Gunfire erupted in a mall as Black Friday shoppers lined up for sales. First shots were fired outside of the mall, the suspects ran inside of the mall and more shots were fired. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Tallahassee, FL Walmart: Authorities believe a disagreement over a parking space led to two people being shot and wounded outside of a Walmart. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Springfield, MA Kmart: A man leaves his girlfriend's 2 year old outside of Kmart in the parking lot to go buy a TV. When the man comes out of the parking lot, he can’t find the 2 year old, panics, and leaves with a friend. The 2 year old was later found in the man’s car. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Augusta, GA Best Buy: A Marine collecting Toys for Tots donations at Augusta's Best Buy was stabbed in the back Friday while helping to subdue a shoplifting suspect. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Los Angeles, CA Walmart: A woman doused other shoppers with pepper spray during a Black Friday rush of XBoxes at Walmart. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving and derives it’s name because the day after Thanksgiving is notoriously when retailers began to start making a profit on the year; they’re ‘in the black’ on the books instead of being ‘in the red’. If you’ve ever been Black Friday shopping before, you’re familiar with the early hours, long lines, and unbeatable sales.
Over the past couple of years, retailers have begun to open their doors earlier on Black Friday - as early as midnight to give shoppers the opportunity to shop the entire day. This year, some stores will be opening on Thanksgiving Day!
For some reason, these earlier hours, paired with ridiculous sales, have led to crazier and larger crowds. In some places, lines start forming in front of stores up to weeks before Black Friday.
Unfortunately, the crazy crowds have brought about some pretty serious crimes. So, if you do decided to make it out this coming Black Friday and can avoid being trampled by the crowd, you should be aware of the craziness that has ensued on recent previous Black Fridays. We’ve listed a few of the crimes below. But first, a few tips we have for the ambitious Black Friday shopper.- Wait later in the day to avoid the bum rush.
- Don’t bring your kids.
- Stay away from malls, department stores, Macy’s, Toys-R-Us, Best Buy, and all Walmarts.
- Cyber Monday anyone?
- Spread the Christmas Cheer - be nice!
Madison, WI Toys-R-Us: A 21-year-old woman was arrested Thursday night when she threatened other shoppers while waiting in line at the Toys R Us store. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Sacramento, CA Arden Fair Mall Macy’s: A man was stabbed outside of a Sacramento mall in an apparent gang-related incident as shoppers were in front of Macy's. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Fayetteville, NC Cross Creek Mall: Gunfire erupted in a mall as Black Friday shoppers lined up for sales. First shots were fired outside of the mall, the suspects ran inside of the mall and more shots were fired. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Tallahassee, FL Walmart: Authorities believe a disagreement over a parking space led to two people being shot and wounded outside of a Walmart. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Springfield, MA Kmart: A man leaves his girlfriend's 2 year old outside of Kmart in the parking lot to go buy a TV. When the man comes out of the parking lot, he can’t find the 2 year old, panics, and leaves with a friend. The 2 year old was later found in the man’s car. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Augusta, GA Best Buy: A Marine collecting Toys for Tots donations at Augusta's Best Buy was stabbed in the back Friday while helping to subdue a shoplifting suspect. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Los Angeles, CA Walmart: A woman doused other shoppers with pepper spray during a Black Friday rush of XBoxes at Walmart. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
Buckeye, AZ Walmart: Jerald Newman, the grandpa whose bloody arrest at a Walmart on Black Friday made national headlines, hasn't yet been charged on allegations of shoplifting and resisting arrest. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
San Jose, CA Oakridge Mall Macy’s: A woman attacked a Black Friday shopper with a hammer. She hit a man over the head with the hammer twice. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
A screen shot for the SpotCrime Crime List for all crimes is below. Check out the entire crime list here.
San Jose, CA Oakridge Mall Macy’s: A woman attacked a Black Friday shopper with a hammer. She hit a man over the head with the hammer twice. Link to crime on SpotCrime.
A screen shot for the SpotCrime Crime List for all crimes is below. Check out the entire crime list here.
Comments
Great piece Brittany