Check sex offender registry ahead of Halloween trick-or-treating, AG says

Before mapping out a child's Halloween trick-or-treating route, parents should check the Illinois sex offender registry, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said.

"The number of known sex offenders throughout Illinois is extremely alarming, and they do not live in any one neighborhood or community; they live in every part of our state," Madigan said.

Illinois law prohibits all sex offenders who committed a crime against a child from distributing candy or others items to children on Halloween. Sex offenders on parole, mandatory supervised release and probation may have other conditions imposed upon them to protect the public. They may be prohibited from having their porch lights on and from leaving their homes, except for verified work purposes.

As of October 2017, there were more than 30,200 registered sex offenders listed on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, and more than 24,700 of those committed a crime against a child. The registry is administered by the Illinois State Police.

Click here to check a neighborhood for registered sex offenders.

For more information about the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, CLICK HERE

PARENTS ON ALERT

Chicago police issued an alert after two separate instances of child luring, including one outside John Hay Community Academy Monday morning, where two women tried to lure kids to their car during recess.

Many parents have their own strategies for keeping their children safe.

"You want your kids to go out in groups," said parent Stacy Robinson. "But now you want an older brother or adults to be with them. It's not like the old days when you said come home by 9 p.m. Now you always want somebody with them."

"We have a standard procedure with our child and she knows this, she basically knows if we do not give her instructions on who is coming up here to get her, you don't go, candy, puppy, rabbit whatever it is, she knows not to go to anyone but us," said parent Rickie Brown.

OTHER SAFETY TIPS

-Visit only homes with the porch light on. Accept treats at the door. Never go inside.

-Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street.

-Use face paint, instead of masks, which make it hard to see.

-Make sure an adult checks the goodies before eating. Throw away anything that isn't packaged.