DBK Crime
Students dressing as Breaking Bad’s Walter White for Halloween may want to leave their bags of crystal meth at home.
University Police are prepared for a jump in parties across College Park on Halloween, said University Police Chief David Mitchell.
The trend occurs every year and an increase in incidents is common for every major holiday, said University Police Maj. Marc Limansky. But besides students appearing as nurses and Power Rangers, Halloween is relatively normal.
“For us, when it comes to policing, it’s another day — we’re just seeing people in costume,” University Police spokeswoman Sgt. Rosanne Hoaas said.
Overall, the department does not see an increase in any type of criminal behavior around Halloween, Limansky said.
“There’s nothing really crime-related that we see increasing or decreasing,” he said. “It’s kind of flat.”
But because of the holiday festivities, officers notice a higher potential for parties off the campus, Limansky said. With that comes an increase in risky behaviors such as excessive drinking.
In general, this is the time of year when the Maryland Highway Safety Office asks police departments to monitor drunk driving more closely because of the influx around holidays, according to Limansky. The department is also planning to direct resources to downtown College Park and other areas where crowds will gather, Mitchell said.
For students planning to go out on Halloween or that weekend, Mitchell advises:
- Plan to travel to your destination in pairs or a group
- Wear reflective clothing to help drivers see you if you’re planning to walk around the neighborhoods
- If you receive any candy from trick-or-treating, look for any “telltale signs” that it has been tampered with
“Have fun and be safe,” Mitchell said.
