Happy safe Halloween
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer

Local police departments are offering tips to ensure a safe Halloween for trick-or-treaters, as well as encouraging parental supervision and setting curfews for minors.

According to Aberdeen Police Department Chief John Powers, the curfews this year for Thursday, Oct. 30, and Friday, Oct. 31, will extend from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

"The curfews for [October] 30 and 31 are set for people under the age of 17," Powers said. "There are exceptions, such as if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian, employment, attending a school or religious activity, or if the activity is supervised by an adult."

Powers said that unaccompanied minors out and about after the curfew either will be told to go home or will be taken to the police department and turned over to a parent or guardian.

"We recommend people to visit the Aberdeen Township Web site and look over the recommended tips," Powers said.

The National Crime Prevention Council Web site (www.ncpc.org) suggests older trick-or-treaters go out in groups and have a plan should they become separated from their group. Younger children, the Web site states, should be accompanied by an adult and should never enter a strange house or car.

The Web site also offers tips on enjoying treats safely, suggesting that parents give children a meal or snack before they go trick-ortreating, so they do not eat candy before an adult checks it.

Residents of Matawan Borough are instructed to visit the Matawan Police Department's Web site at www.matawanpolice.org for trick-or- treating tips and curfews.

In Holmdel Township, the curfew for Oct. 30 and 31 will begin at dusk on both days, police said.

"We actually start our Halloween program a few days in advance where I go into the classrooms in both the Village School and St. Benedict's and present material with McGruff [the Crime Dog] on Halloween safety," said Holmdel Police Department Patrolman Michael Pigott. "We go over costume safety, such as wearing lighter colors and reflective strips on dark costumes. We also cover candy and what they should and should not take and where they are supposed to trick-or-treat."

Pigott said that he visits the kindergarten through second-grade classes, handing out Halloween safety packets to as many as 500 students.

He said that the curfew in Holmdel applies to those under the age of 18 unless an adult accompanies them.

"If [minors] are out and about not doing anything illegal [during the curfew], they will either be brought home or we will call their parents to come pick them up and let them know there is a curfew and they can't be out unaccompanied," Pigott said.

Holmdel parents are advised to be on the lookout for the Halloween safety packets the students will bring home this week.