Anne Arundel Trick-or-Treating Hours, Safety Tips for Halloween 2016

MILLERSVILLE, MD — The Anne Arundel County Police Department will have extra patrols out Monday in preparation of and during Halloween activities taking place throughout the county to deter criminal activity and help ensure that residents have a safe Halloween.

There are no rigid trick-or-treating hours, say local officials, with it left to each family, community or organization to set the times they want to trick-or-treat. But most families let their kiddos hit the streets from roughly 5 to 8 p.m. on Halloween, with parents of wee ones likely to be out earliest on Monday, Oct. 31.

Residents can expect a visible police presence in the form of Tactical Patrol Unit officers, available bike patrol officers and scheduled reserve officers, who will have red lights flashing on their vehicles along with customary patrol vehicles.

SEE ALSO: Anne Arundel County 2016 Halloween Sex Offender Registry

"Operation Lights Out"

The police department’s annual Halloween initiative on Oct. 31 will conduct surveillance on specific registered sex offenders throughout the county to ensure they are not participating in any Halloween activities.

The police department will work with the Division of Parole and Probation and monitor the activities of specific registered sex offenders in the county on Halloween night. The Division of Parole and Probation has identified offenders who are not to participate in Halloween events based on probation limitations and requirements. Identified offenders on the registry who violate any part of their probation will be reported to the Division of Parole and Probation for further action.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department reminds you of the following safety tips:

• Stay in groups while trick-or-treating. Make sure that an adult or a responsible person will be supervising young children.
• Teach your children to stop only at homes or apartment buildings that are well lit and to never enter a stranger's home.
• If you are not going with your child, know the neighborhood and route they are taking.
• Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten. Eat dinner before trick-or-treating to prevent the urge to eat treats.
• Always walk. Do not run from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
• Walk on sidewalks and not in the street. If a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
• Carry flashlights to help children see better and be seen more clearly.
• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
• If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eyeholes. Consider using face paint instead of a mask.
• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)
• If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light-colored materials. Strips of reflective tape or glow sticks should be used to make children visible.
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules prior to your trick-or-treat adventure.
• Drivers need to be alert at all times and be aware of children crossing the street.
• Homeowners should keep their homes lit, secure all animals and give out only candy that is wrapped.