County Police to Ensure Sex Offenders Don't Participate in Halloween Activities

Police are taking extra precautions to help to ensure the safety of local parents and their children participating in Halloween festivities Monday night.

The Anne Arundel County Criminal Investigations Division Sex Offense Unit will use undercover detectives and patrol officers to conduct surveillance of certain registered sex offenders to ensure they are not participating in any Halloween activities, according to a release from police.

There are 25 registered sex offenders in the Severn area with addresses in ZIP code 21144. The Maryland Sex Offender Registry keeps tabs on those convicted of sex crimes, including street address, place of work and vehicles with tag numbers. The registry is not to be used to harass or commit a crime against those listed on the site, but for informational purposes only, according to the release.

In addition to officer surveillence, the police department urges parents to follow a list of guidelines to ensure a safe and secure trick-or-treat experience:

• Stay in groups while trick-or-treating. Make sure that an adult or a responsible person will be supervising young children. 
• Teach your children to stop only at homes or apartment buildings that are well lit and to never enter a stranger's home. 
• If you are not going with your child, know the neighborhood and route they are taking. 
• Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten. Eat dinner before trick-or-treating to prevent the urge to eat treats. 
• Always walk. Do not run from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards. 
• Walk on sidewalks and not in the street. If a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic. 
• Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly. 
• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects. 
• If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eyeholes. Consider using face paint instead of a mask. 
• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.) 
• If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light-colored materials. Strips of reflective tape or glow sticks should be used to make children visible. 
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules prior to your trick-or-treat adventure. 
• Motorists need to be alert at all times and be aware of children crossing the street. 
• Homeowners should keep their homes lit, secure all animals and give out only candy that is wrapped. 

Additionally, the department released information that the Western District has experienced an increased number of automobile break-ins recently and reminded car owners to lock their vehicles and park in well lit areas.

In the Severn Oaks Community specifically, located just outside of Severn in Odenton near Annapolis Road, police said several incidents occurred recently that they said could have been prevented if the drivers car owners took extra precaution before leaving the vehicle.