Whose Door Is Your Child Knocking On?

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO/AP) — Corporal Scott Stover with the Columbia Police Department says while Halloween can be fun, it can be dangerous. Authorities say sex nearly 900 sex offenders will be on a curfew from 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. this evening. They’re also not allowed to host parties, attend carnivals, give out candy or turn their front porch light on during curfew hours. For some parents the idea of their child going door to door makes them anxious. “There’s always an inherent danger when a child knocks on a door that they are not familiar with,” says Stover. But for University Hill resident, Kathryn Fenner, it’s who’s knocking on the door that causes a bit of concern. Fenner says her neighborhood doesn’t usually attract trick or treaters. Instead, because of their location to Five Points, she says they attract an older crowd of Halloween goers. “We have a lot of college students obviously both in our neighborhood and walking through our neighborhood to and from Five Points,” says Fenner. If you become concerned over who’s in your neighborhood, there are ways to protect yourself like notifying law enforcement of any suspicious activity. Also, if you are out and about, stay on well lit streets and always use the sidewalk and travel in groups. When it comes to children, police ask that they always have a chaperon. “A responsible adult, a parent, someone like that to go out with their children and make sure they are safe,” says Stover Other tips to keep in mind while trick or treating include: Use a flashlight to see and be seen. Never eat unwrapped candy. Adults should check all candy before a child eats any of it. Also, only trick or treat in well known neighborhoods. When it comes to what homes to knock on the doors of, there’s another tip. “One thing that we recommend is not to knock on any door that does not have the front porch light on. All people who are going to participate in Halloween, please leave your porch light on. Those are the ones that children are going to come to,” says Stover.