HAPPY HALLOWEEN: Avoid 1,200 Sex Offenders In Palm Beach County, Safety Tips

BOCA RATON, FL – Boca Post (BocaPost.com) — Find out how to avoid knocking on the door of one of the approximately 1,200 registered sex offenders that live in Palm Beach County.

Avoiding Sex Offenders While Trick-Or-Treating In Palm Beach County

That’s the advice of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. A spokesperson for the department tells Boca Post that there are approximately 1,200 sex offenders currently living in Palm Beach County. PBSO says they, along with the Florida Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Services, have increased monitoring on and around Halloween.

PBSO says you can monitor your own neighborhood by using OffenderWatch, the department’s sex offender mapping and alerting service, which can help you to avoid what they call ‘dangerous homes’. You can use PBSO’s OffenderWatch tool to locate registered sex offenders and predators in your area. That same tool can be configured to send e-mail alerts if an offender moves within a certain radius of your desired location.

A quick search for an address in your neighborhood may or not return “hits” where sexual offenders may live. You can then use that information to avoid those homes when trick-or-treating. If you are planning on trick-or-treating in another neighborhood, as many people do, you should check out that neighborhood with the tool.

Safe Trick-Or-Treating In Palm Beach County

Treat Safety

• Do not eat homemade treats from strangers. Only ever eat factory-sealed treats.
• Always examine all candies for potential choking hazards and tampering.
• Check Halloween candy for unpackaged items and suspicious packaging.
• Products that contain THC, CBD, or other cannabis-related products that may resemble gummies or chocolate, be on the lookout.
• If you are unsure, toss it!

Neighborhood Safety

• Do not Trick-Or-Treat alone
• Do not allow small children to go door-to-door without a responsible adult.
• Never approach vehicles
• Kids under 12 should not be alone, especially at night. Mature kids who can be out without supervision should stay with groups and remain in well-lit areas.
• Avoid homes that do not appear to have exterior lights on
• Do not take shortcuts across backyards, alleys, or parks. Sidewalks only.

General Safety

• Keep doors locked even if nearby just handing out candy.
• Use high-visibility tape, colors, and lights as part of costumes.
• Carry glow sticks and flashlights to ensure kids are seen by motorists.
• Report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.