There's no hard and fast rule as to when trick-or-treating begins or ends, however a good rule of thumb is to keep it to daylight and give people a chance to get home and settled in before knocking for goodies, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

"We try to encourage people to go out when it's light outside," said Debbie Carter, sheriff's office spokeswoman.

A good rule is to go out between 6 and 8 p.m., Carter said.

"You've got to get people a chance to gt home and finished with dinner," Carter said.

When the sun sets, it's a good idea to start wrapping up. And remember to only knock on someone's door if their outdoor light is on, Carter said.

Other safety measures include:

• Have an adult accompany children
• Carry a flashlight
• Stop at street corners
• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street
• Never walk between parked cars
• Walk on well-lit sidewalks and paths
• Never cut across yards
• Carefully check treats before letting children eat them

Safety tips provided by St. Joseph's Children's Hospital