Fall is a beautiful and fun time of year, and the highlight of the season is Halloween. The season for suggestive costumes is finally among us, and no one knows the season better than student apartment complexes and police departments.
With pumpkins ripe for smashing and trustworthy citizens leaving unprotected bowls of candy out for trick-or-treaters, ne’er-do-wells will be out in force. FBI data from 2010 to 2012 shows that October has the fourth most average monthly offenses of violent crime, property crime and assault, just a shade under July, August and May.
Orchard Trails, located under a mile from the University of Maine campus, is preparing for the Halloween weekend just as they would prepare for any other week.
“As a property, [we] do not want to encourage dangerous play on or off property,” Ridwane Adua, Orchard Trails Community Manager, said. “Authorities will be on patrol, as usual, not just for Orchard Trails, but for all of Orono.”
Located just a short distance down Kelly Rd, The Grove is echoing Orchard Trails in terms of preparation. Sales Manager Collin Popper also mentioned that police presence is a part of every weekend at The Grove. Popper said The Grove wanted to “prevent illegal activity, and promote a safe environment for all inhabitants of the property.
According to United States Census Bureau data from April 2010, there are roughly 900 children under 18 years of age in the town of Orono. Combined with the population of students around the University and surrounding complexes, this could be a dangerous cocktail for Orono Police Department.
Orono PD said that they will field extra officers for the night of Halloween, and will respond to noise complaints across the city.
“I will say that we have extra officers on for Halloween with some in plain clothes.” an Orono PD spokesperson said. “We won’t discourage parties because we expect students to have fun and enjoy their college experience. If we get noise complaints, we expect people to show us respect and we will show them respect.”
Orono PD made a point to add that they do not get enjoyment from ruining the parties thrown during the Halloween season.
“We are not going around breaking up parties for fun, we often get complaints first,” the spokesperson said. “It may not be understood, but our whole goal is to keep the public safe and serve our community.”
