Old Ellicott City Businesses Host Trick-Or-Treating Tuesday, HoCo Police Offer Safety Tips

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Trick-or-treaters can head to Old Ellicott City Tuesday for some Halloween fun.

From 4 to 6 p.m., Old Ellicott City businesses will greet ghosts, goblins, superheroes and black cats at their stores. The Howard County Police Department said that detectives have accounted for all 123 registered sex offenders in the county and all are in compliance. Parents who want to be aware of offenders’ residences when mapping out their trick-or-treat route can check the Maryland Sex Offender Registry, the department noted.

Officers will be out and about Tuesday, looking for incidents of vandalism, theft and destruction of property. They will conduct speed enforcement activities and be on the lookout for drunk or impaired drivers.

Howard County Police offered the following tips to parents, drivers:

• Encourage children to trick-or-treat with a group and before dark. After dark, an adult chaperone should carry a flashlight and choose well-lighted streets.
• Wear costumes that are short, snug and flame retardant; wear light colors or reflective tape; avoid masks that can obstruct vision.
• Teach children they should never go inside a stranger’s home or car.
• Remind children not to eat treats before they have been inspected by parents; never eat candy that has been opened.
• Tell trick-or-treaters not to take shortcuts through backyards, alleys or playing fields.
• Don’t allow children to approach homes that are dark.
• Drive slowly all evening – you never know when a trick-or-treater may dart into the street.
• If you’re handing out candy, turn on outside lights and remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard.