Search Online For Predators Before Kids Go Trick-Or-Treating

EL PASO, TX – The police department has againstepped up efforts to keep registered sex offenders in line during Halloween.

“We have sex offenders who have picked up victims based on casual encounters and decide to take things further,” says Officer J. Garcia, with the El Paso Police Department.

Thousands of childrenwilltake tothe streets Wednesday eveningto go trick-or-treating.and police said that parents help youngsters stay safe by pinpointing where registered sex offenders, just by making an online search.

“Definitely during Halloween there can be a casual encounter. That is something we need to be aware of,” Garcia said.

On most occasions, parents do not search for the information and have no idea if their children are taking candy from a registered sex offender, police said.

By law, all registered sex offenders are prohibited of displaying any Halloween decorations that might attract children to their homes.

Police report only two registered offenders were found to be in violation of the law this year.

One such offender, Robert Ramos, 30, wascited for putting up Halloween decorations at his home in the 8700 block of CometSt. in Northeast El Paso. As part of his probation, a judge ordered he could not decoratehis house. ABC 7photographers taped footage of his home late Wednesday afternoon and found small decorations were still on display.

Another registered sex offender who lives in the 10,000 block of Cardigan in East El Paso was also cited.

Last year, there was ten cases of sex offenders violating the law by displaying decorations on their homes. Police say judges handle these new cases according to the severity of the charges under which the offenders were convicted.

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Written and reported for broadcast by Bob Harp

Written for the web by Joe Villasana and Kevin Pytcher