A gentle breeze rustles as the sun sets; creatures begin lurking in the dark under a pale moonlight. Not a single light can be seen, with the exception of a few flickering jack-o-lanterns. That’s when everyone knows it’s that time of year again: Halloween.

Today, Halloween mostly consists of trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, haunted houses, and dressing up in costumes. With this eventful Canadian culture, a lot of safety precautions need to be kept in mind.

When choosing costumes for children, parents should pick bright, flame retardant costumes. For all outfits worn at night, reflective tape should be added for better night visibility.

“Weather conditions should also be taken into account the night of Halloween – parents should make sure that their children are dressed according to the weather,” states Crime Prevention Officer, Laura Collier.

Parents should plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets. Collier continues, “Parents should teach children to say “NO!” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them.” Children should also have phone numbers and their home address on them.

The Brantford Police Service would like to remind everyone that alcohol should only be consumed by persons who are over nineteen years old and should be done in moderation. Alcohol and driving should never be mixed, and if you plan to drink, have a way to get home safely without driving.

“During this time of year, police will see an increase in mischief investigations. Even though it may seem like harmless Devil’s night or Halloween fun, vandalism is a crime,” said Officer Collier.