NSW mum petrified after rat poison slipped into 12yo’s son’s Halloween lollies

“It quivers me to the core, I was just horrified. Who does that?” Illawarra mum Pennie says. 

A NSW mum has been left fuming after finding sachets of rat poison in her son’s trick-or-treating bag. 

Sending her 12-year-old son and his friend off in their costumes, Pennie Smith thought it was just another Halloween. 

The boys left the house and attended the annual Windang Halloween event, where kids from the neighbourhood celebrate the spooky tradition. 

But when they returned home, Pennie was disgusted with what she found in their lolly stash. 

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Pennie discovered sachets of rat poison in her son's Halloween goodies. Source: Illawarra Mercury

Ratsak found among 12yo’s Halloween lollies

According to the Illawarra mum, inside the bag were multiple sachets of a bright blue substance. 

Upon closer inspection, she realised what it was - Ratsak, a rat poison with Brodifacoum used to kill rats and other vermin. 

While Ratsak doesn’t have a large enough dose to kill a human, the poison can cause hemorrhaging and is particularly dangerous and potentially lethal around children. 

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One of her son’s friends held a packet in his hands and asked her if she “thought it was funny someone had given it to them.” 

Speaking to the Illawarra Mercury, Pennie was furious with the discovery. “It quivers me to the core, I was just horrified,” she said. “Who would do this?”

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One of the Ratsak sachets left inside the Halloween bags was empty. Source: Illawarra Mercury

“Imagine if a kid put this in their mouth”

She “immediately grabbed” the bags of lollies from her son and his friend, searching them for other packers of the deadly poison. 

Upon further inspection, she noticed one of the sachets was opened, with the “blue bait missing”. 

Frustrated and terrified for her kid’s safety, she threw the entire contents of the bag into the bin on the chance the lollies had become contaminated.

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She issued a stark warning to other parents who have yet to investigate their children’s Halloween stash. 

“Please keep an eye out. Imagine if a kid put this in their mouth,” she said. 

NSW Police said they are aware of the incident and are currently investigating. If anyone has information about the crime, they are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

This article was first published in October 2023 and republished in October 2024. 

Originally published as NSW mum petrified after rat poison slipped into 12yo’s son’s Halloween lollies