{"id":344593,"date":"2025-10-31T02:48:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T02:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/344593\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T02:48:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T02:48:14","slug":"san-antonio-schertz-police-share-tips-for-halloween-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/344593\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio, Schertz police share tips for Halloween safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 A scare this week in Schertz<\/a> has law enforcement urging parents to keep an extra close eye on their kids, especially on Halloween.<\/p>\n

Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, a 10-year-old girl was walking in the 1500 block of Red Cedar Cove when she was approached by a man she did not know, according to Schertz police.<\/p>\n

Officers told KSAT the stranger tried to convince her to walk with him. The girl was able to get to a neighbor\u2019s house for help.<\/p>\n

Schertz police said as of Thursday, there is no update on the investigation.<\/p>\n

With all the costumes and face painting that come with Halloween, Schertz and San Antonio police want parents to make sure they are hypervigilant with all safety tips.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlan your route. Stick to well-lit streets in familiar neighborhoods. Be visible,\u201d Schertz officer Anna Kraft said. \u201cCarry flashlights, glow sticks or add some type of reflective to the costumes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kraft said by knowing what streets or neighborhoods you plan to go trick-or-treating at ahead of time, you already know if there are sidewalks, streetlights and homes that may have dogs.<\/p>\n

San Antonio police officer Emily Garvin said staying in your own neighborhood can provide some sense of security.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to encourage, you know, kids to trick-or-treat wherever they do live,\u201d Garvin said. \u201cThat way, in case they do get lost, they\u2019re familiar with the locations and they can go ahead and head home.\u201d <\/p>\n

Knowing where you are going ahead of time also means you know what area to look at on the Texas Department of Public Safety\u2019s sex offender registry<\/a>. You enter an address, and it provides public information on registered offenders in that area.<\/p>\n

Another tip both Garvin and Kraft shared is for Halloween revelers to travel in groups and to take a picture of their respective groups before heading out, and if possible, even during the outing.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake pictures of the children prior to them going trick-or-treating, so in case they do get lost, parents can show police what the child was last wearing,\u201d Garvin said. <\/p>\n

She and Kraft said pictures will help you see if someone, be it an adult or a child, has attached themselves to your group.<\/p>\n

Garvin even advised doing a little roll call after stopping at a house to count the kids in your party. She said regular stops will allow you to make sure you have all the kids you started out with.<\/p>\n

Garvin and Kraft also said to avoid homes that do not have the porch light on.<\/p>\n

Another tip for parents addresses kids going up to the doors of homes they are stopping by.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents don\u2019t usually think about when kids go and knock on someone\u2019s door. Take a few steps back, so that way they\u2019re not hit by the door,\u201d Garvin said. \u201cIf the person does come out and isn\u2019t giving candy, at least the child is closer to their parent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officers also stress that parents should not let their children go too far, and if the groups happen to encounter aggressive dogs, not to provoke them or step to them. Both said to call police.<\/p>\n

Garvin said San Antonio Police Department officers will be carrying out their patrols and will be visible to help the city feel safe as they celebrate Halloween.<\/p>\n

Below are additional safety tips offered by Schertz and SAPD:<\/p>\n