In the run-up to Halloween, we tend to focus on what can go wrong with regards to allergies. How many of us consider anything more sinister, though?
We’re very sad to say that a number of New York families have learned the hard way that not everyone has the best of intentions towards little children.
Police in the village of Vernon, New York, have issued a public service announcement after two families found sewing needles embedded in their children’s Halloween candy.
The incident first came to light when one mother took to Facebook to share a video of herself pulling a needle out of a Twizzler – one that she was about to give to her two-year-old.
She reported the incident to the police, and it turns out that she was not the only one to make the grizzly discovery.
“The Vernon Police Department received two complaints today regarding the discovery of a silver-coloured sewing needle inside a package of red Twizzler Twists candy, and in or near a children’s Halloween candy bag,” the Facebook PSA read.
“The video of the woman discovering the sewing needle inside the red Twizzlers Twists package is one of the subjects who was interviewed by Vernon Police, and subsequently, filed a formal complaint.”
Parents were urged to ‘carefully inspect their children’s candy’, with authorities going on to share frightening evidence of the findings, in a photo.
“The below-listed photograph is the actual sewing needles the second victim discovered among her children’s candy. Both victims indicated the sewing needle seen in the photograph is the identical sewing needle seen on the Facebook video,” they added.
The incidents – which were completely separate – are now being investigated criminally.
While Halloween may be over, it's worth keeping this story in mind as we prepare for the festive season - sad but true.
