Greenwich PD Issue Halloween Guidelines

Police Chief James Heavey is asking Greenwich businesses and residents to leave lights on during the Halloween period — Friday night and Saturday night.

Heavey suggests outside lights being left on these two evenings as a deterrent to vandalism. He’s also asking “residents to get in the habit of putting on their outside lights all year round on a timer or install a motion sensor light. It deters not only vandals, but other crime as well. You can report street light outages by calling Eversourse 1(800)-286-2000.”

Trick or Treating is limited to Oct. 31 and Heavey requests parents to accompany their younger children and recommends terminating at 8 p.m. for this age group. As a precaution, children should not accept unwrapped candy and parents should examine fruit before eating. Also, children should wear light colored clothing or reflective clothing when dusk sets in. Several toy manufacturers now make flashlights just for Halloween, which help as well.

Other safety advice includes:

Motorists:

• Slowdown in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic laws.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle. Be on the alert for excited youngsters darting out in traffic whose vision may be obscured by masks.
• Enter and exit driveways with caution.
• If you are driving children around the neighborhood, make sure they enter and exit the car on the curbside.
• Drivers should not wear a mask or a costume that makes it difficult to move your arms and legs while driving.
• Designate a driver for “adult parties”.

Parents and Children:

• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the Police Department immediately.
• Use costumes with light or bright colored material and trim.
• Check to see that the costume does not interfere with walking.
• Encourage children to use face paint and/or make-up rather than hoods, wigs or masks that can block vision.
• Teach children not to cut across yards. .
• Do not accept rides from strangers.
• Check all treats before the children eat the candy and other Halloween goodies. Discard any homemade or unwrapped treats.
• Restrict Trick or Treat visits to homes with porch or outside lights on.
• Don’t go into homes.
• Give children a flashlight and fresh batteries so they can see and be seen.
• Children should Trick or Treat in groups, NEVER alone. An adult should accompany children.
• Set a time limit for your children to Trick or Treat. Designate a specific route for them to take.
• Children should obey all pedestrian safety laws: wait for green lights, walk, never run into the street, look left, right then left again before entering the street traffic. Cross only at street corners and never between parked cars.

The department’s volunteer Special Police Unit will be out both Friday and Saturday nights augmenting and supporting the regular staff.

Heavey said, “Anyone involved in criminal mischief will be promptly arrested and parents will be held responsible for any damage done by their children. Cooperate with your police on the nights of October 30th and 31st and by working together we can continue to keep Greenwich a safe community.”

Photo credit: george ruiz.