HUNTSVILLE  — The Huntsville Police Department announced this week that starting today, Nov. 23, they will begin their annual “Safe Shop Detail” to mark the beginning of the busiest shopping season of the year.

Safe Shop is an overtime detail that places more officers in shopping areas in each of the precinct districts in an effort to ward off crime during the hectic holiday shopping season. Beginning on Black Friday, shoppers in the area can expect to see more officers at many of their favorite shopping places around Huntsville over the course of the next month.

During Safe Shop, HPD precinct commanders will coordinate the use of this personnel until its conclusion on Dec. 24.

“The goal of the detail is to have more officers available as a crime deterrent in the respective shopping areas,” explained Lt. Michael Johnson, HPD public information officer, in a news release. “Citizens are encouraged to call Huntsville police if they see anything suspicious so that together, we can make this a safe holiday shopping season.”

To contact Huntsville Police for a non-emergency matter, call 256-722-7100.

To keep up with city notices, visit www.huntsvilleal.gov.