Use This Map To Avoid Sex Offenders While Trick-Or-Treating
With Halloween right around the corner it could be a fun night for the kids, but it can also be very dangerous. Parents, the Texas Department of Public Safety reminds you to take extra caution while trick-or-treating with your children.
Before you head into various neighborhoods with your kids, check out the DPS website as it has an updated map on sex offenders who reside in any neighborhood in your area.
Enter an address and the site will provide offenders with an ‘L’ for low risk, ‘M’ for medium, and ‘H’ for high.
This map is also available on the DPS mobile app as it provides an interactive and easy to use map that displays names, addresses and proximity of any sex offender in your area. It's available for download on the iTunes store or Google Play store.
Before you dole out all that yummy candy, check with The Texas Poison Center Network to make sure the treats are safe to eat.
The Tyler Police Department has some safety tips as well to help you have a safe evening:
- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
- Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts or use glow sticks.
- If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
- Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
- Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind trick-or-treaters:
- Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
- Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
- Carry a cellphone for quick communication.
- Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk
- If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
- Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
- Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!
- Parents should inspect candy before consumed.
- Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
Have a safe and fun Halloween!