Parents are being cautious on Halloween

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - In less than a week, hundreds of children and their parents will take to the streets to trick or trick and recent violence is on their minds.

Some parents are starting to steer their kids away from the traditional routes and towards safer options like schools and parks.

The Eastfield Mall is preparing for their Mall-O-Ween event on Thursday night, where kids can trick or treat store to store.

Other parents are just bundling the kids up and staying vigilant.

Brittany Dunn of Springfield told 22News, "In our neighborhood I feel safe, maybe in some other neighborhoods not as safe, it's still Halloween so people should have hearts."

“Using caution and using your brain and you're watching your kids and going to the doors with them," according to Tammy Wood of Springfield.

Jillian Gould said "Even if it's cold outside, it's rainy outside, you know that you can do your trick or treating and its dry."

The Eastfield Mall's event begins at 5pm and runs until 8 pm.