Waukegan Police Release New Details in Halloween Candy Tampering Investigation

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The Waukegan Police Department has released new information regarding reports of Halloween candy containing foreign objects, confirming that sewing needles, bobby pins, copper wire, plastic, and a gold nail were reportedly discovered inside chocolate candy collected during trick-or-treating on October 31.

In a November 3 media release, Deputy Chief Craig Neal provided additional details about the incident, which remains under investigation.

According to police, the Waukegan Metropolitan Emergency Communications Center received a report of suspicious circumstances around 7:30 p.m. on Halloween. Officers responded to a residence in the 3000 block of Grandville Avenue, where a mother reported that her 9-year-old daughter had discovered foreign objects inside several pieces of candy.

How the Suspicious Candy Was Discovered

Investigators learned that the child had previously watched a video suggesting that magnets could be used to identify metal objects hidden in Halloween candy.

Following the video’s suggestion, the girl’s mother placed a magnet inside her daughter’s trick-or-treat bag to help identify potentially tampered candy.

After returning home, the child noticed the magnet sticking to several pieces of chocolate.

Her mother subsequently opened the candy and reportedly discovered sewing needles, bobby pins, copper wire, plastic, and a gold nail.

The discovery prompted the family to contact authorities.

Police Identify Areas Where Candy Was Collected

The family told investigators they had been trick-or-treating in several Waukegan neighborhoods, including areas surrounding Flossmoor Avenue, Leith Avenue, and Ridgeland Avenue.

They also visited homes near Waukegan High School’s Brookside campus, including residences along Lynn Terrace.

However, investigators have been unable to determine which residence distributed the candy containing the foreign objects.

Officers collected the affected candy and the objects as evidence.

No Suspects Identified; Investigation Remains Open

According to the department, officers were unable to develop any suspect leads during their initial investigation.

Police also confirmed that no additional reports involving similar incidents had been received by the Waukegan Police Department.

The case remains under investigation by the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or established who was responsible for placing the objects inside the candy.

The department’s latest release provides additional context surrounding the original Halloween report but leaves several questions unanswered, including where the candy originated and how the objects ended up inside the chocolate.

Residents with information relevant to the investigation can contact the Waukegan Police Department at (847) 599-2500.

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