DuPage task force to assure safety of kids on Halloween

It's that time of year again - when ninjas, superheroes and witches invade neighborhoods.

As sugar-high children scatter, parents won't be the only ones keeping out a watchful eye.

A multi-jurisidictional task force headed by DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba will be out again this Halloween to ensure those registered sex offenders barred from handing out trick-or-treat candy are in compliance.

There are 303 registered sex offender living in DuPage County, compared to 4,274 in Cook; 351 in Kane; 594 in Lake; 194 in McHenry and 374 in Will, according to Illinois State Police.

Offenders are required to register with their local police once a year. To ensure they do, Zaruba organized the task force in 2005 that included some three dozen agencies.

Its goal is to check in on each of the convicted sex offenders a few times a year to ensure they are in compliance. Moreover, the group also does special surveillance each Halloween on those offenders - nearly five dozen - who as a condition of their parole or probation cannot hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.

On Halloween 2005, the task force made its most high-profile arrest when a former CLTV broadcaster doled out treats to kids in his Aurora home in violation of the probation he received for indecent solicitation of a child charges during an Internet sting in Lake County.

The sheriff also offered these Halloween safety tips:

• Make sure an adult accompanies children and that they have a flashlight or glow stick;

• Costumes should be a light color or, if not, illuminated with reflective tape. Try to use makeup instead of a mask. Avoid costumes that require weapons;

• Have children stay in their neighborhood in well-lit areas; instruct them to avoid cutting across driveways and parked cars;

• Young children should stop trick-or-treating when it starts getting dark;

• Residents should leave on a porch light; never ask a kid to enter your home; if a child reports being lost, call 911;

• Don't let children eat candy until it is inspected by an adult; call the police if there are any suspicious treats;

• Parents should know where local registered sex offenders live; lists are available at: dupageco.org/sheriff/; isp.stat.il.us/sor/; or mapsexoffenders.com.