With hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend the Ann Arbor Art Fair, city police are encouraging people to be aware of their surroundings—and stay hydrated.

Police declined to discuss specifics about their plans to deter crime, but uniformed officers are patrolling on foot — and possibly bicycle — day and night, police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said.

“We will have officers strategically assigned throughout the Art Fair,” she said.

In addition, a mobile command unit, staffed by a sergeant, is set up on South University Avenue between South Forest Avenue and Washtenaw Avenue to handle medical emergencies and other incidents.

Bush urged visitors to keep a close eye on their wallets and purses. People staffing booths should know where they’re located, Bush said, so they can direct officers there if needed.

Bush said people should make sure they have a working telephone. If anyone spots suspicious activity, she said, they should call 911 immediately with a description of the person involved.

Bush did not have crime statistics from last year’s event, but police handled at least two incidents in which items were stolen from booths. In one case, a man was arrested after a donation jar was stolen from a booth staffed by Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark.

In another case, a man stole a bronze sculpture, but two women staffing the booth didn’t pursue him because they didn’t want to leave the booth unattended.

Meanwhile, Ann Arbor Art Fair organizers are reminding people that water stations are located throughout the fair and air-conditioned trolleys and shuttles will be available to take people around. Comcast has an air-conditioned dome on Liberty east of Main.

Also, Huron Valley Ambulance has a post set up on North University Avenue and Fletcher Street in front of the Michigan League and will have two roaming paramedic teams.

Download a pdf of additional Art Fair safety tips.

Lee Higgins is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com