Anne Arundel County Closely Watching Sex Offenders On Halloween Night
ODENTON, Md. (WJZ) -- As ghosts, goblins and ghouls take over neighborhood streets on Halloween night, police in Anne Arundel County are boosting patrols to keep an eye on something much more dangerous.
Gigi Barnett explains officers are closely watching convicted sex offenders.
Police officers in Anne Arundel County are teaming up with parole officers. They plan to go door-to-door to make sure children never get into contact with what some parents might call their worst nightmare.
Before the trick-or-treaters hit the cul-de-sacs, Anne Arundel County Police issued a list of dos and don'ts to convicted sex offenders.
A strict 6 to 10 p.m. curfew is in place and porch lights must stay off to tell kids that they're not welcome.
A "no candy" sign must be in plain view on the front door.
Police are also beefing up patrols to keep an eye on certain types of sex offenders.
"There are certain types of sex offenders who are prohibited from having contact with children on Halloween night and that's because their crime victims were children," said Chief Kevin Davis.
Davis said his officers have a list of about 70 addresses that they'll visit just to make sure.
It's called "Operation Lights Out."
"My hope for them is that they're all in compliance. We're certainly not doing to embarrass anybody or to out anybody, but public safety trumps anything else on a night like this," said Davis.
Parents know that well. Many on this block have issued their own warnings to children.
But on a night like Halloween, parents like Karen Cote are concerned.
"Well, they know not to talk to strangers and if the house looks like it's not giving out candy, don't go to it," said Karen Cote, parent. "It's scary. I don't know of any [sex offenders] in my neighborhood, but yeah, I worry about stuff like that."
Davis says he will be out on foot patrol.
Sex offenders are also barred from passing out candy or coming into contact with any children.
Police said sex offenders caught violating the curfew will be in violation of breaking their parole.
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