The kids might be scared of ghouls and ghosts on Halloween, but public safety officials say there are other things parents must watch out for when trick-or-treating.

With more people expected to be out for the Friday holiday this year, people should take extra caution in their search for candy, according to Richmond County sex crimes Investigator Mark Dobbins.

Kids should travel in groups, avoid poorly lit homes and never enter someone's home, he said.

As a father of three young girls, Investigator Dobbins said he always checks the sex offender registry, which can be found on the Richmond County Web site at www.augustaga.gov, before his girls go to a new neighborhood.

"It's a little bit over the top, but it gives you the knowledge of whether there is a convicted sex offender living there," he said.

In South Carolina, the state Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services has imposed a 5 p.m. curfew on Halloween for sex offenders. They will not be allowed to hold parties, give out candy or have their outdoor lights on from 5 to 10 p.m.

The agency monitors about 1,200 sex offenders across the state, and on Friday the department plans to make phone calls or home checks.

Law enforcement agencies also expect to see a good deal of vandalism on the holiday. Richmond County property crimes Sgt. Horace Anderson said the department gets the usual burglaries and break-ins, but it's not too much more than usual.

"We're probably going to get some vehicles egged and stuff like that, but otherwise it's not that bad," Sgt. Anderson said.

But the combination of thousands walking around in the dark and many more wearing masks often leads to another problem -- armed robbery.

Homicide Investigator James Kelly said the sheriff's office typically sees a rise in robberies on Halloween.

It can be a crime of opportunity, and the nature of the holiday makes it easy for thieves to prey on others. He said the safest bet for parents is to have their children attend community-sponsored events. Otherwise, they should be wary of strangers, bring flashlights and stay with a large group.

"I suggest they get their Halloween trick-or-treating done before nightfall," he said.

When Halloween falls on a Friday, traffic fatalities increase by 30 percent compared with other days of the week, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows. To combat the problem, law enforcement plans to be more visible, and some agencies are beefing up patrols.

Aiken Public Safety will have 15 additional officers on duty Halloween night to patrol the neighborhoods and make sure motorists are watching out for children.

Lt. David Turno said vandalism isn't a problem on Halloween, but public safety is concerned that, because it falls on a Friday night this year, more trick-or-treaters might be out.

"There will be enforcement of reckless driving because we're going to be out trying to keep people slow as they drive through the neighborhoods," he said.