Black Friday Shoppers Get What They Want

There was a good turnout for Black Friday--or Thursday--in Murrieta.

At 11 p.m. Thursday, the outdoor temperature was 46 degrees, but shoppers were out as though it were 11 a.m. on a weekend.

Many of the hundreds who waited outside used blankets and jackets to keep warm. One shopper brought a small camping heater for warmth.  

Black Friday shopping in Murrieta went smoothly with no problems, according to Murrieta police Cpl. Jay Froboese.

“There are two of us assigned here to keep the peace,” Froboese said. “Best Buy is doing a great job of keeping their crowd under control with their coupons.”

The city of Murrieta has a program called "Safe Shopper" that was put in place about 10 years ago. The program was kicked off Thursday for the 2011 shopping season, and gives two additional officers on the weekends to patrol shopping centers.

“They look for unlocked cars and items left in view,” Froboese said.

A group of six Murrieta students waited outside Best Buy since Monday to get their items. They did a rotating schedule to keep their place in line.

“The drive was for this $200, 46-inch Sharp television,” said Brederick Bucyan, 20, of Murrieta. “This was worth it. To all those people who think we’re crazy, hate on us now for being first in line.”

Some shoppers waited outside Kohl’s bundled up in blankets waiting for the doors to open.  

“We don’t have Kohl’s in Hemet,” said Becky Sims, 41, of Hemet. “I want some bar stools and couch covers.”

Murrieta Walmart shoppers got their shopping done before midnight.

“It’s Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving, got to get the deals,” said Brooke Mankey, 27, of Menifee. “We got a basket full of stuff for $145 including two vacuum cleaners.”

Last year, most stores opened at 4 a.m. This year most box stores opened at 12:01 a.m. and Walmart started putting Black Friday sale items out at 11 p.m. Thursday.