Don’t Be Tricked by Trick-or-Treaters
Halloween is right around the corner. Little witches and Spider Men will dot the streets as the children go house to house with that ever familiar “Trick or Treat” chant, hoping to fill their pillow cases with enough candy to ensure an extra trip to the dentist.
As a homeowner it is fun to see all the costumes and to bring smiles to the kiddos faces as you plop Tootsie Rolls and Twix bars into their bag. Though, in the midst of the festivities it’s always important to be wise when opening the door to strangers.
Many communities have posted customary times for the children to be out – generally 5pm-8pm or thereabouts. Invariably each year, long after the last princess has been tucked safely at home in her bed, and after porch lights are turned out marking the close of another Halloween – kids who appear to be far too old to be out trick-or-treating will rap at your darkened door, assumedly looking for sweets.
It never fails; the streets will be empty and nary a house light remaining on. Some of these teens are so old their voices sound like grown men as they bark “TRICK OR TREAT” apparently ignoring the fact that you’ve either chosen not to participate in the tradition or that you’re all done for the night – as signified by no porch light shining.
Do not feel compelled to open the door. Most of these tardy candy beggars are likely innocent teens who have no real concept of ‘too late to be out knocking on doors’. Yet it would be naïve to assume anyone rapping on your door at 10pm merely wants a Snicker’s bar. This could be an opportune time for attackers or burglars to gain entry to your home – after all, it’s Halloween, right? Prime time to let your guard down to strangers at your door.
I’m not suggesting you should be paranoid of every vampire that shows up at your door. Just to be vigilant and make wise choices. After a reasonable amount of time has passed for the majority of kids to make the rounds, turn out your porch light and lock your door – all of your doors, and enjoy the remainder of your evening without interruption for late comers.
Proof of our society’s decline is that Halloween has become a broad daylight event for many. ~Robert Kirby
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a speaker, author and personal safety and crime avoidance specialist who has given seminars in schools, organizations and corporations. Her message is inspiring, humorous and empowering; delivering the importance of making wise choices to protect ourselves and those we love. Learn more at http://www.LaurieAyers.com
FTC Compliance Disclosure: I am a member of the Kwikset-sponsored SmartSquad and occasionally receive incentives to discuss issues related to home safety and security.
Product Review: Personalized Hats For Kids are a Horrible Idea
I recently saw a post for your chance to win an adorable knit hat for your baby or child – and best of all it would be personalized with your little blessing’s name. I went to the website that was sponsoring the giveaway and read: “[Company] specializes in Personalized Baby Sweaters and Handmade Baby Clothes for Babies, Infants, Toddlers and Children.”
Really? Personalized apparel for small, innocent, helpless children? A pedophile or kidnapper’s dream! “Well hello little er, ah, … Suzy! Your mom asked me to pick you up because she had to work late.” Or “Why yes, officer, this baby … I mean my baby, Royce, IS my son. Why? Did someone say otherwise?”
What a horribly, unsafe practice. I’m sure the store owner is a very sweet, kind person. She is clearly very talented in her knitting abilities. She just grossly missed the personal safety dangers with this one.
Some may fail to see how dangerous it is to provide complete strangers vital information about your precious child. Both parents and manufacturers are so overtaken with the cuteness factor that they are missing the obvious – that they could be serving up their baby, toddler or youngster to child predators on a silver platter!
Ayers on the Side of Caution gives this one a Thumbs Down.
Posting Bus Routes Publicly is Asking for Trouble
I just saw a disturbing post on Facebook that took me to a link to a local newspaper that is published both online and offline. It was three pages of detailed school bus route information. It provided the bus driver’s name as well as exact times and locations where the bus, containing minor children would be. Any time you are time and place predictable, especially when it concerns minor children, you could be making committing a crime by a potential kidnapper or attacker so much easier.
Below is an example of one of the routes published. The article contained the entire school district. I sanitized it a bit as I clearly don’t want to perpetuate this dangerous practice.
XYZ Area Schools bus routes for 2011-12
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The following is a list of XYZ Area Schools’ bus routes for the 2011-12 school year. For more information call 555-3890.
[SPECIFIC SCHOOL ]
Driven by [Specific Bus Driver’s Name] — Bus No. 02C
The bus will leave the bus garage at 6:40 a.m. and travel north on Jebavy to Decker, East on Decker one mile turning around and backtracking. The bus then travels north on Jebavy to Angling Road, east on Angling to Beaune Road, north on Beaune to Ehler and east on Ehler to Jebavy. Then north on Jebavy to Barnhart, west on Barnhart to Sherman, south on Sherman to Shagway and west Shagway to Lincoln. The bus will then turn around and take Shagway back to Jebavy, turning south to Fountain Road, east on Fountain to Sherman, south on Sherman to Mavis, east on Mavis to Jebavy. The bus then turns south on Jebavy to Dewey, west on Dewey to Sherman where it turns around and backtracks Dewey to Jebavy. The bus then travels south on Jebavy picking up children who live on the west side of the road and continues on to the XYZ High School/Middle School complex, ABC, DEF, and GHI elementary schools.
Does anyone else see anything wrong with this practice? If I was a parent whose child rode one of these routes you can bet your bippy I would be on the phone to the school district expressing dissatisfaction over this information being so readily available to the public.
For more information on the dangers of being time and place predictable continuing reading here.
