Full Notification

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Halloween is right around the corner and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s wants you to have a fun-filled but safe night, by following a few safety tips for kids and adults who are gearing up to go trick-or-treating!

For Kids:

• Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.
• Never go trick-or-treating alone.
• Never go inside a stranger’s house to get treats. Stay outside at a safe distance.
• Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms. Cross only at intersections.
• Carry a glow stick or flashlight to make sure people see you and you can see them. Wear something reflective!
• Try makeup instead of a mask, which can obstruct your vision.
• Have your parents check all treats before you eat them. Don’t eat candy if the package is already opened.

For Adults:

• Help your child choose a safe costume. A safe costume should be fireproof or fire retardant. It should also be brightly colored or treated with reflective tape, and should not be a tripping hazard. Masks should allow for clear vision.
• Make sure a responsible adult is with your young children when they go trick-or-treating.
• If children will be going trick-or-treating alone, set a safe route and a time for them to be home. Have them check in with you at regular intervals.
• If you are driving, make sure to drive slowly and safely- you never know what creature may suddenly cross your path.
• Check all treats before allowing your child to eat them. Allow children to eat only unopened treats and those in their original wrapper.
• Go to the HCSO’s website at www.HarrisCountySO.org and click on the “Crime Reports” screen shot. Use it to identify the locations and names of registered sex offenders in your area, and then make sure the kids avoid those homes.
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity using the HCSO’s free mobile phone app iWatchHarrisCounty (www.iwatchharriscounty.com).

Others who will be out on the streets on Halloween are deputies with the HCSO’s Sex Offender Registration Unit. They’ll be checking home addresses of known sex offenders to make sure they are not soliciting or enticing children to their doors.

For non-emergencies, please call 713-221-6000. These are just some of the many tips we have for you. For more tips, please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/hcsotexas or on Twitter: @HCSOTexas. We hope all the little ghouls and goblins have a spook-tacularly safe Halloween this year!