As Rockland shoppers kicked off the holiday shopping season at local stores over the Thanksgiving holiday, police say it was also a busy time for store security personnel and police coping with accused shoplifters.

Clarkstown police said they arrested nine people in eight separate incidents over the holiday period, with one of those incidents escalating to a robbery charge as an accused shoplifter got into a struggle with a store personnel.

Louis Flores, 43, of Bayside, Queens, is accused of third-degree robbery, petty larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and possession of burglar tools after an 8 p.m. incident on Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve, at Toys R Us on Route 59 in Nanuet, according to Clarkstown police.

Police said Flores is accused of taking $819 worth of Sony MP3 players by stuffing them into the pockets of his cargo-style pants. Police said Flores struggled with a store personnel as they attempted to detain him for police. Flores was held at Clarkstown police headquarters in New City pending arraignment in Town Court.

At 1:50 p.m. the same day, a 17-year-old from West Haverstraw was arrested on petty larceny charges at JC Penney at Palisades Center in West Nyack. Police said the young man was accused of taking $20 worth of merchandise and was released pending a Dec. 20 hearing in Town Court.

At 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday, a 19-year-old Bronx woman and a 15-year-old Bronx girl were accused of taking $67 worth of merchandise from the Macy's department store at Palisades Center, according to police. They were released pending a Dec. 15 hearing in Town Court.

On Friday, police said a 17-year-old Jersey City, NJ, girl was accused of taking $47 worth of merchandise from the Sephora store at Palisades Center at 12:46 p.m. She was released pending a Dec. 22 hearing in Town Court.

Also on Friday, police said a 17-year-old Sparkill boy was accused of taking $60 worth of merchandise from the JC Penney store at 1:30 p.m. He was released pending a Town Court hearing on Dec. 22.

Police also said that at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sheena Martin, 27, of Brooklyn, was accused of petty larceny in connection with the theft of $540 worth of merchandise including a handbag, hat and sweater from the Lord and Taylor department store at Palisades Center. Martin was released pending a Dec. 15 Town Court hearing, police said.

On Saturday, police said William Cabrera, 39, of Sleepy Hollow, was charged with petty larceny in connection with the theft of $30 worth of merchandise at 6:30 p.m. at the Target department store at Palisades Center. Cabrera was released pending a Dec. 20 Town Court hearing.

Also on Saturday, police said a 17-year-old boy from South Ozone Park, Queens, was accused of taking $172 worth of merchandise at 3:15 p.m. from the Macy's at Palisades Center. He was released pending a Dec. 15 Town Court hearing.

Clarkstown police said they had extra officers assigned to the major shopping areas in the town over the holiday. Police said there were no other major incidents in the area, other than the shoplifting arrests.