CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- Safety precautions are necessary when young children trick-or-treat for Halloween. However, public officials give extra safety tips on how to avoid houses with sex offenders.
“On Halloween they’re not permitted to put decorations out,” said Cape Coral Policemen, Phil Mullen.
“Obviously, they have special conditions based on their own case but that’s pretty much a catch-all for any sex offender.”
Lee County Sheriff's Office will be monitoring sex offenders throughout Halloween tonight. In addition, to removing any decorations, they say sex offenders should have their porch lights off if possible and are not allowed to hand out candy.
For Arlette Stang, mother of a 3-year-old and 6-year-old, she says she still feels concerned.
“Kids go missing, you know? The fear is always you turn around and they're gone," she said.
LCSO gave a few more safety tips for parents and kids trick-or-treating. It includes, planning your waling route ahead of time, wearing light or reflective type clothing, carrying a flashlight and having adults check the candy before kids dive.
“They’re going to be safe, as long as you're supervising them and making sure they're with you at all times; checking their candy once they get it. Not much is going to happen with a kid when you’re with them," explained Mullen.
Still, the mother of two plans on taking her entire team will her.
“It’s my mother and I and my husband and our two kids. So we got three adults for two kids, all eyes on them and make sure they are nice and safe.”
The map below shows the permanent addresses sex offenders and predators have registered with the state.
Green markers indicate an address of a sex offender who is a minor
Yellow markers indicate the address of a sex offender
Red markers indicate addresses registered by sex predators
