Palos Police Keep Tabs On Sex Offenders This Halloween

PALOS TOWNSHIP, IL — There are hundreds of registered sex offenders living across Illinois and like many law enforcement agencies, Palos Park, Palos Heights and Palos Hills police will have extra patrols on Halloween to make the day fun and safe for children to enjoy.

Parents are reminded to monitor their children and find out what houses they plan to visit on Halloween. Before mapping out a child's Halloween trick-or-treating route, parents can check the map to see where registered sex offenders from the Illinois registry are living in Palos Heights, Palos Hills and Palos Park.

>>> Palos 2019 Halloween Sex Offender Safety Map

Registered sex offenders are prohibited from passing out candy on Halloween. They may not appear in a Halloween costume or other child-centered holiday character, such as Santa and the Easter Bunny, in public.

Police offer these tips to keep kids safe on Halloween:

• Visit only homes with the porch light on. Accept treats at the door. Never go inside.
• Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street.
• Use face paint or makeup instead of masks, which makes it hard to see.
• Make sure an adult checks the goodies before eating. Throw away anything that isn't packaged.