NYPD Safety Tips for New York City Trick-or-Treating This Halloween

NEW YORK CITY — Halloween can be one of the most fun nights of the year, but trick-or-treaters should keep their wits about them. On a night when everyone is dressed as a monster, criminals can blend right in.

The NYPD has released a list of safety tips to ensure that the only thing trick-or-treaters suffer from this year is a stomach ache caused by stuffing their faces with candy.

Chief among the safety tips is that children going trick-or-treating should always be accompanied by an adult, even if traveling with a group of friends.

Here are the NYPD's tips on staying safe this Halloween:

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times;
• Avoid poorly lit areas and homes of strangers;
• Travel in groups. Remember there is safety in numbers, and have at least one adult;
• Avoid displaying valuables and electronic devices. Thieves will use the holiday to hide behind a mask to commit crimes;
• Do not use cellphones while crossing the street;
• Make sure small children are carrying emergency identification information in case of accidental separation. Take a photo of children in their costumes before they go trick-or-treating.
• Only eat Halloween candy that is distributed in its appropriate, unopened packaging.

Dark, crowded streets — and a propensity for drivers to consume alcohol — also make Halloween a dangerous for pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that Halloween is one of the three most dangerous nights for pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

Here are some tips for pedestrian safety this Halloween:

Photos: NYPD