WHEATON, Ill. (STNG) - Parents should locate registered sex offenders in their neighborhood and have their children avoid those houses in trick-or-treating, according to the DuPage County Sheriff's Office.

Parents can find the addresses of local sex offenders by visiting the Web site of the Sheriff’s Office or the Illinois State Police Web site, according to a DuPage County Sheriff’s Office release.

Parents who do not have a computer should call the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division at (630) 407-2323 for more information, the release said.

“I hope that every mom or dad will take a few minutes before trick or treating and check one of the online sex offender registries so they are aware of any offenders living in their area,”  Sheriff John E. Zaruba said in the release.

Zaruba’s multi-jurisdictional Sexual Predator Enforcement Apprehension and Registration Team will monitor the homes of registered sex offenders.

The SPEAR Team will pay special attention to offenders on probation or parole and are specifically prohibited by statute from decorating their homes, handing out candy or otherwise participating in Halloween activities, the release said.

On the Net:
Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry: http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/
National Sex Offender Registry: http://www.nsopr.gov/