Anchor: Halloween is just two days away and NCC News reporter Mackenzie Pearce has the tips and tricks on how to stay safe this year.
Reporter: Trick-or-treating is just around the corner, and Syracuse City Police Department Sergeant Matt Malinowski shares the best way parents can keep their children safe.
Matt Malinowski: The main thing is make sure that your kids are not trick-or-treating alone, that they are in a group, if you are able to as a parent you should accompany your children.
Reporter: Syracuse P-D will also be increasing patrol this Thursday to accommodate for the large crowds.
Matt Malinowski: Our regular patrol officers will be in the area and we have an extra patrol where they will be flashing their lights and driving in some of the more heavily dense candy collection areas in the city and they will be flashing their lights and just trying to take extra precautions make sure everyone’s safe.
Reporter: Sergeant Malinowski also mentioned an increase in burglaries during this time of year, so if you become a victim of crime please contact the Syracuse Police Department, live in studio, Mackenzie Pearce N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)— Halloween is a treat for kids of all ages, but Syracuse Police want to make sure that kids and parents know these tricks to stay safe.
Syracuse Police Department Sergeant Matt Malinowski shared the best ways for all trick-or-treaters to ensure a great Halloween.
“The main thing is make sure that your kids are not trick-or-treating alone, that they are in a group, if you are able to as a parent you should accompany your children,” said Malinowski. “If you are by yourself as a child or young adult, make sure that you don’t go into a person’s home when you’re getting candy. Another part of that is don’t ever enter a stranger’s vehicle; also, just try to stay in public view at all times.”
Sgt. Malinowski mentioned that even if “you are a big strong kid,” it is still safer to travel in a group because it lowers the chance of being attacked or having candy stolen. He also suggested that children and adults wear reflective gear or bring a flashlight so that they are visible to cars, especially when crossing the street.
Finally, when trick-or-treaters return, it is important to inspect all the candy that was collected and only eat factory made sweets, especially avoiding homemade goodies.
Syracuse Police will be increasing patrol on Thursday to accommodate the large crowds.
“Our regular patrol officers will be in the area, and we have an extra patrol where they will be flashing their lights and driving in some of the more heavily dense candy collection areas in the city, and they will be flashing their lights and just trying to take extra precautions make sure everyone’s safe,” said Sgt. Malinowski.
Check out the full interview and SPD’s Halloween safety flyer for more tips on how to enjoy a fun and safe Halloween below.
Reporter: Okay, so first question is how can parents keep their kids safe for Halloween?
Matt Malinowski: The main thing is make sure that your kids are not trick or treating alone, that they’re in a group. If you’re able to as a parent, you should accompany your children, especially when walking in neighborhoods. If you are by yourself as a child or young adult, make sure that you don’t go into a person’s home when you’re getting candy. Another part of that is don’t ever enter a stranger’s vehicle also just try to stay in public view at all times. Make sure that when you’re in now crossing the street stand the sidewalk when possible if there is no sidewalk at least make sure you’re walking facing traffic so you can see for vehicles going to come near you. When you get back to your house, have all your candy make sure that you examine all the treats before you eat them. And make sure you eat candy that comes from more like a manufacturer versus a Like a homemade rap treat if and when possible.
Reporter: And then how can children themselves stay safe, if they don’t have a parent with them?
Matt Malinowski: Main thing is not walking alone. So even if you’re a big strong kid and you feel like you can handle it, people are less likely to attack you or try to steal your candy. If you’re with the groups, that’s the biggest thing. And then just taking the precautions of not entering someone’s home, not entering somebody’s vehicle, making sure your parents know the route you’re taking. If you have a cell phone, make sure you’re making yourself as visible as possible. Whether it would be a flashlight or some sort of reflective gear, things like that.
Reporter: And then what is the police department doing to help ensure the safety of those in the town?
Matt Malinowski: Well, we’ll have some regular patrol officers will be in the area and we have an extra patrol or they’ll be flashing their lights and driving in some of the more heavily dense candy collection areas in the city. And they’ll be flashing their lights and just trying to take extra precautions making sure everyone’s safe and then also we robberies due to They go up in this time of the year. So if you happen to be a victim of crime squad and give us a call to 1911
Reporter: And then is there anything new that the department’s doing this year?
Matt Malinowski: Not necessarily new, just something that we do we understand it’s gonna be a lot of people out so we’ll have a few extra patrols highly visible and that the officer is going to try to be and just making sure everyone safe.
Syracuse Police Department shares its tips on how to have a safe halloween. 
