MANATEE COUNTY- Knocking on neighbors’ doors for candy is a treat, but knowing where registered sex offenders are is an easy trick to keep your kids safe. According to The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, there are over 700,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S. On a night like Halloween, Manatee County Sheriff’s spokesperson, Randy Warren says kids need supervision.
“All parents need to be aware of who’s living in their neighborhood,” said Manatee County Sheriff’s spokesperson, Randy Warren. “It’s just good practice, to know who your neighbors are.”
Parents can visit the department of law enforcement’s sexual offenders and predators website to see a list of all registered sex offenders living within a five-mile radius.
“Put in your address; find out who’s living down the street,” said Warren. “They have to register, so that information is public”
Knowing where sex offenders are, is one way to keep children safe while trick-or-treating, Warren says, know where your kid’s are and don’t let them wander off in the neighborhood alone.Florida Law prohibits sex offenders from giving out candy to kids on Halloween and Warren says offenders have rules to follow.
“So on a night like Halloween, they need to be laying low somewhere else,” said Warren. “They need to turn their lights out and they better not be out there handing out Halloween candy because that’s a direct violation and they will have to face the consequences.”