Police prepare for scares

Marisa O’Neil

Police and residents are hoping for more treats than tricks this

Halloween.

Devilish ghouls committing Halloween pranks and acts of vandalism

have made past holidays a fright, especially in the Port streets of

Newport Beach. And a recent study by the Automobile Club of Southern

California revealed that children under the age of 12 are more than twice as likely on Halloween than any other October or November day

to die or suffer an injury from being hit by a car.

“Kids are out more and walking around more [on Halloween],” said

Steven Bloch, senior research associate for the Automobile Club.

“Perhaps they’re in kind of a more fun phase than being concerned

with traffic safety. They’re thinking more about having fun and the

goodies they’re getting than the cars coming up behind them.”

Children under the age of 12 walking the streets are 136% more

likely to be killed or injured between 3 and 9 p.m. Halloween than

other October or November day, according to the study. Adults and

children older than 13 are 45% more likely to be hurt or killed,

Bloch said.

The study was based on California Highway Patrol data from 1994 to

2003.

This year, the holiday falls on he same day that daylight saving

time ends, meaning trick-or-treaters will have an extra hour of

darkness to contend with, Bloch said.

Darkness won’t be as much of a factor in the Port streets, where

floodlights will illuminate the greenbelt area, Newport Beach Sgt.

Steve Shulman said. The community paid for the lights to be installed

in recent years to prevent groups of teens from congregating there

and wreaking havoc as they have in the past, he said.

“There were huge groups of kids, and some of the kids looked

really old, and they’re still trick-or-treating,” said Stacy Wyatt,

who lives in the Port streets. “[The night] starts out fun; then

these packs of kids, after 10 at night, start roaming the streets.”

The roaming has led to smashed pumpkins, egged windows,

toilet-papered homes and older children stealing candy from younger

children, Shulman said.

For the past few years, the police have added extra patrols in the

neighborhood, which has helped ease the problems, Shulman said. Some

neighbors also created their own haunted houses in the area last

year, Wyatt said.

“That gave kids something to do,” she said. “It seemed to be a

little calmer.”

People who prefer trick-or-treating in a more controlled

environment can go to Hullabaloo from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the

Orange County Fairgrounds. Local churches -- The Crossing, Rock

Harbor, Newport-Mesa Christian Center -- and Vanguard University

organized the event with candy, a climbing wall, petting zoo and

other activities, Rock Harbor events coordinator Alissa Bach said.

“It’s a great alternative for people who are not comfortable going

out on the street or who want a closed environment,” Bach said. “It’s

got a safe feel for people, knowing that there’s security there, and

it’s all fenced in.”

Parents of children in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District

received a letter last week from Supt. Robert Barbot, offering some

Halloween safety tips. The letter, also signed by Newport Beach

Police Chief Bob McDonell and Costa Mesa Police Chief John Hensley,

advises parents to know their children’s plans for the evening and

make sure children obey the 10 p.m. curfew and stay in well-lighted

areas.

“Being seen is one of the crucial elements of being safe,” Bloch

said. “Make sure you see the driver and the driver sees you.”

Safety tips often include advising children to carry flashlights

and put reflective tape on their costumes. Light sabers, glow sticks

and light-up necklaces are other ways to be seen.

Some Halloween safety tips:

* Using face make-up is safer than wearing a mask. If a mask is

worn, remove it before crossing the street to improve the ability to

see oncoming traffic.

* Cross streets only at corners, not between parked cars or in the

middle of the block.

* Drive slowly in residential areas.

* Don’t enter any home while trick-or-treating.

* Inspect candy before eating and don’t eat any fruit or unwrapped

candy.

* Respect the property of others.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.