The Houma Police Department has established the following safety tips to help make this Halloween a safe and enjoyable one. Those participating will be able to enjoy the event on Thursday, October 31, 2019, between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m.

Keeping your child safe:

• Wear light-colored/reflective clothing.
• Make sure children can see well through facemasks.
• Always accompany your child(ren) during the route. 
• Take a flashlight along the route to light up dark areas.
• Be sure costumes, shoes, and treat bags are safe. 
• Remind kids not to enter strangers' homes or cars. 
• Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home. Be sure to inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them. 
• Candy that has been opened should be thrown away. Any homemade treats or fruit should be inspected closely. 
• Stay within the neighborhood and only visit homes you know. Do not approach homes that have no lighting and their outside lights are off.
• Never cross the street from between parked cars. Remember drivers have a hard time seeing people, especially at dusk.  
• Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they can catch costumes and long wigs on fire. 
• Make sure that fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse, have them mistaken for the real thing.

Making your home and surrounding areas safe for trick or treaters:

• Turn on your porch light. 
• Move lit jack-o-lanterns off the porch where kids can get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups. 
• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard. 
• Motorists should exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle. Be on the alert for excited youngsters darting out into traffic and whose vision may be obscured by masks. You never know what creature may suddenly cross your path. 
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.

Anyone with information on criminal activity within any neighborhood is encouraged to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Additional Information

• News Release