Black Friday and the month leading up to Christmas make for a hectic time in the shopping mecca of North-Central Ohio.

Ontario, with its many stores and restaurants, becomes jam-packed with bumper-to-bumper traffic.

So, Police Chief Rod Smith urges you to take it easy as you hunt for bargains.

He urges patience and cooperation, and extra careful driving without the distraction of using a cell phone and texting.

Smith reminds you not to give thieves incentive to break into your car, and says officers will be on the lookout with at least one cruiser patrolling store parking lots.

The chief says his staff gets limited time off during the coming month, and there will be some overtime expense, as Ontario Police keep busy controlling traffic, handling car accidents, and breaking-up scuffles between shoppers.