Halloween Crime Prevention Tips - Yonkers Police Department

Halloween is an exciting time of the year and a particularly special treat for children. However, Halloween can be very stressful, as some people may play mean tricks and provide tainted treats. Parents and children should be alert to unnecessary hazards. The following are some crime prevention tips that can help make Halloween safe and more enjoyable for everyone:

• Instruct your children never to enter the home of a stranger.

• Do not allow your children to go out alone.

• Instruct your children to stay in their own neighborhood and trick or treat at homes that have porch lights on.

• Children should wear costumes made of light colored material. If the costume is made of dark material, attach reflective tape to the costume to increase nighttime visibility.

• Replica firearms that could be mistaken for real firearms should be avoided.

• Children and adults should carry a flashlight so that motorists can see them.

• Children should walk on the sidewalks, not on the street.

• Children should cross the street at the corners. They should never cross the street between parked cars, in the middle of the block, or diagonally across the intersection.

• Masks can restrict vision. If your child wears a mask, make sure he or she removes it before crossing the street.