Halloween safety reminder

North Vancouver RCMP is sharing safety tips with the community to ensure everyone has a safe fun filled Halloween.

Halloween night is traditionally a busy night for trick-or-treaters, parents, and first responders. North Vancouver RCMP will have additional resources on shift over the Halloween weekend to help ensure public safety.

We regularly receive an overwhelming number of noise complaints resulting from the use of fireworks. Fireworks are not permitted in the City of North Vancouver. District of North Vancouver requires a firework permit for anyone interested in selling or purchasing fireworks.
Those caught selling or setting off illegal fireworks can face fines. Misuse of fireworks can also cause personal injury or lead to criminal charges.

If you have safety concerns regarding the misuse of fireworks in your neighborhood, please call our non-emergency line at 604-985-1311. The use of 911 should be reserved for emergencies only. Police will prioritize response to calls with an immediate risk to public safety.
9-1-1 should only be used in case of emergencies where an immediate response is required.

What constitutes an emergency?

• When someone’s life is in danger or there is an immediate threat to person or property (e.g. Screams, shots fired, an assault occurring)
• When a crime is in progress (e.g., a break and enter, fight, vandalism in progress)
• When a serious crime has just occurred and the suspect may not be far away (e.g., sexual assault, robbery, domestic violence)

Remember, if it is happening now and you see it taking place, call 9-1-1 before the suspect gets away!

Residents are also encouraged to use the RCMP Online Crime reporting tool to avoid long wait times on the non-emergency line. Any resident of North Vancouver can use online crime reporting if the incident took place within the jurisdiction of the North Vancouver RCMP and they have:

• Lost something that costs less than $5000
• Had something stolen that costs less than $5000
• Had property or a vehicle vandalized and it will cost less than $5000 to repair it

There are some instances where online crime reporting is not available:

• when there is a witness or suspect
• when there are lost or stolen items involving personal identity, firearms, license plates or decals

Let the creepy costumes and spooky decorations be the only thing that scares you this Halloween, says Media Relations Officer Constable Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP. Take appropriate pre-cautions to ensure that you have a fun and safe Halloween experience.
We encourage you to review the following safety tips and share them with family members:

• Trick or treat in groups or with an adult;
• Plan a route that includes well-lit streets, sidewalks and crosswalks;
• Always use a marked crosswalk and never jaywalk;
• Have a flashlight with you;
• Ensure children have emergency contact information on them;
• Save the treats for home, after they have been inspected by an adult;
• Choose a costume that is light, bright, and incorporates glow sticks or reflectors;
• Avoid face masks that could obstruct your vision; make up or face paint is a safer choice;
• Leave any fake weaponry at home;
• Pets are safer inside with the family, where they can be secure from the frightening sights and sounds of fireworks or people in costumes. While it can be a fun exciting time for people, we need to remember our four-legged family members don’t perceive things the same way we do and extra care should be taken with them.