Pin reportedly found in Halloween candy
WOODBURY HEIGHTS In a Facebook post that quickly went viral Sunday, a South Jersey woman said she found a piece of metal in her children's Halloween candy, after her kids went trick-or-treating in a neighborhood here this weekend.
Michelle Garwood's status was shared more than 1,180 times within two hours after she posted photos of sharp metal reportedly found in a Snickers Almond bar Sunday night. She did not immediately respond to a message seeking an interview Sunday evening. Her post said the candy was collected in Woodbury Heights near St. Margaret's.
"I could not believe as we go trick-or-treating there every year with no problems," Garwood wrote. "I grew up in this town and felt safe to go trick-or-treating here. I am shocked. I notified police via phone and tomorrow, I will go there to make a report and show them the candy and the pin that was found in it."
Gloucester Twp. Police: Man faked candy tampering
The Woodbury Heights Police Department confirmed on its Facebook page that officers had received a report of a pin being found in candy in the 100 and 200 blocks of Central Avenue, Second Street, Linden Avenue, and Beech Avenue, in the neighborhood around St. Margaret Regional School.
"We urge all parents to check your candy thoroughly," the department's post stated. "As with other reports, it is unknown if the tampering was done at home, at the factory, or somewhere in between. If you find candy that appears to be tampered with, please report it to your local Police Department immediately."
Similar reports were made in Chester County, Pa., according to a report by NBC10.com. Metal that looked like sewing needles were found inside five wrapped Twix bars and a Snickers bar handed out to five different children.
Woodbury Heights Police Chief George Lindsay told the Courier-Post Sunday night Garwood reported the incident to his department around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. An officer was dispatched to pick up the pin and the candy from Garwood's Gloucester City home Sunday night.
Lindsay said his department has been inundated with calls about the incident since Garwood posted her status. There have been no other reports of tampered Halloween candy in the town.
"We're doing the best we can, but no one was hurt through the incident," Lindsay said. "We always say this: you've got to be careful."
Kim Mulford: (856) 486-2448; kmulford@gannettnj.co