POLICE, SECURITY TEAMS TO KEEP HOLIDAYS BRIGHT.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

As shoppers and merchants prepare for the holidays, Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's deputies are keeping a close eye on those who would make the holiday season less joyful.

Deputies will beef up security at the city's major malls, patrol cars will roam parking lots and special anti-theft units will hit city streets in an effort to curtail holiday-related crimes, said Sgt. Robert Norelmann.

``While pickpocketing has not been a major problem in our city, people still have to be aware of their surroundings,'' Norelmann said. ``That's the main thing.''

Kim Taylor, manager of The Men's Warehouse in Santa Clarita, said the store is prepared for people who want to be Grinches.

``One of the things that helps is that we have one entrance and someone is always up front keeping an eye on things,'' Taylor said.

At Valencia's Big 5 Sporting Goods store, manager Armando Bermudez said additional security measures have been taken.

``I'm happy with our security, and I will say that we are well aware of what's going on around us,'' he said.

Norelmann said the most important thing to remember is that everyone is a potential target. He said women should hold on to their purses at all times, and men, who usually carry wallets in their back pockets, should carry such items only in their front pockets.

``You have to be aware because if someone is going rob you they are usually just hanging around,'' he said.