As Washington-area shoppers hit the stores with their sights set on that perfect holiday gift, they, too, are being targeted — by criminals taking advantage of the big-ticket purchases and shopping sprees that come with the season.

Historically, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is when police are on the lookout for crimes such as robberies, shoplifting and thefts from automobiles, as criminals prey on shoppers who are sometimes treat the things they purchase too casually, said Don Gotthardt, spokesman for the Fairfax County police.