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Way back it was a tradition, even in the city -- at least, in Baltimore -- but then, must've been the 60s, nutcakes were putting razor blades in apples, handing out hashish brownies, and other nasty and dangerous things. A bit later, older kids were practicing their own versions of trick-or-treat, calling it "knock-n-rob." As for me, living in a semi-rural, rather isolated area, I haven't had one trick-or-treater in the 40 some years of living here.
Was wondering if this old tradition is still practiced in the suburbs and cities.
Its pretty big in our burb. Its a very low crime burb tho - so none of those sorts of issues you describe.
We live in the 'burbs and there is a lot of T-o-T'ing around here. In our prior neighborhood, there weren't many kids so we didn't get a lot at our house. When we lived in San Francisco apartments, we never got any.
I remember hearing the stories about razor blades - never saw anything like that as a kid or as an adult. I do a quick check of my son's candy now and toss any that's open or damaged/mashed up. I doubt there is anything purposely wrong with those (razor blades or something); more that it's just been bouncing around in a bowl with kids hands all over them.
When I was a kid living in the 'burbs, I remember one awesome neighbor who would make special treats each year and pass them out to just the kids on our street. She had plenty of candy for all the kids, but those she knew well would get the special treats. She'd give us butterscotch candies on non-Halloween days too. She was so sweet.
We used to live on a private street of homes built on 3+ acre lots. In our last few years there, we got zero trick or treaters. Previously, we had gotten just a few every year.
Now that we live in a subdivision with homes cheek to jowl with each other, we get loads of them. It isn't that there are so many kids living here, although there are some, but that kids can visit so many homes so efficiently here.
I buy 100 pieces of candy. After that is given out, I turn out the lights and call it done for the year. I enjoy the trick or treaters.
My neighborhood gets lots of trick or treaters. Most people will sit out in their driveways with a bowl of candy to hand out.
Last year we weren't home to give out candy, so I put out a bowl on the doorstep. I got home and only a couple pieces were gone. I guess no one wanted my allergy-safe candy.
Way back it was a tradition, even in the city -- at least, in Baltimore -- but then, must've been the 60s, nutcakes were putting razor blades in apples, handing out hashish brownies, and other nasty and dangerous things.
That has never really been proven. I grew up in Baltimore in the 60's, went trick or treating all the time. Never did I find anything in my bag except for candy.
In our 400+ unit apartment building kids definitely go trick or treating. Go to the top floor of the building, knock on every door in the hallway, get some candy, take the elevator down a floor, repeat... And after that, they go to their friend's apartment buildings and do the same thing. Kids can come back with quite a haul! But it's limited to the buildings where one or other of the kids live. They don't ever trick or treat in an apartment building where they are complete strangers.
I live downtown Fort Lauderdale and neighborhoods around me such as Rio Vista and Victoria Park do trick or treating. In fact the parents in both (large) neighborhoods have block parties.
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Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93
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If I'm not mistaken, that particular incident was isolated and turned out to be the parent(s) doing it to their own child. But, it's possible there were a rash of copycat crimes, I don't really know.
And to answer your question, OP, yes, trick or treating is still alive and well in every place I've ever lived.
I remember a case in Houston, I think in the 70's, where a dad poisoned his own children for insurance money on halloween. He put some kind of poison in pixie sticks.
Pixie Sticks REALLY took a hit in the market after that.
My neighborhood gets lots of trick or treaters. Most people will sit out in their driveways with a bowl of candy to hand out.
Last year we weren't home to give out candy, so I put out a bowl on the doorstep. I got home and only a couple pieces were gone. I guess no one wanted my allergy-safe candy.
We also sit at the street. It's over and done in an hour, because our neighborhood only has 34 homes. I hope trick or treating never dies out, it's one of the pleasures of childhood that has transcended generations.
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That has never really been proven. I grew up in Baltimore in the 60's, went trick or treating all the time. Never did I find anything in my bag except for candy. 
