This weekend is one of the busiest for retailers and shoppers, but it's also a very busy time for thieves.

Lone Tree police told 7news they have seen an increase in vehicle thefts at Park Meadows Mall this year. "It's not a huge increase but we've increased patrols in the parking lots and the number of officers we have stationed here at the mall," said Sgt. Richard Sanchez.

Lone Tree police operate a substation in the Vistas areas of the shopping center and work closely with the shopping center's private security.

"There are hundreds of cameras inside and outside the mall that we watch and the security people watch. The idea is to make the shopping experience safe for the shopper," said Sanchez.

Police said their goal is to curb crime by being as visible as possible, but that there are things that you can do to make yourself less of a target for crime. "If your car is unlocked, that's an easier target than it being locked and being equipped with an alarm system. A lot of times they'll leave the windows slightly cracked, even in this weather, and for thieves it's sometimes as easy as reaching in the vehicle and unlocking the lock."

If you have been shopping and want to store your bags in your vehicle and go back inside, police say cover them up. "The old premise, out of sight, out of mind. It really does work. But don't leave anything visible that would encourage somebody that's walking through the parking lot to forcibly enter your vehicle and take some of those items. If you do take your bags back to your car, lock them up in your trunk. If you have an SUV with just a partial trunk system then certainly cover it up with a mat or coats or what have you," said Sanchez.

7News checked with the other major malls including Flatiron Crossing and Cherry Creek. They tell us they will also have increased security and police presence outside and inside the malls this weekend.