DENVER -- Do you know if there is a registered sex offender living in your neighborhood?

While many state and local law enforcement agencies can provide you with that information, we looked at an independent website that claims to be a watchdog for your family.

It's www.familywatchdog.us, and we tried it out by typing in the address of the television station: 123 E. Speer Blvd, Denver.

The Web site showed a registered sex offender's home a block away from nearby Morey Middle School. A block away, another sex offender. Another block away, another sex offender.

And not that far away, just a little north at Wyman Elementary School, another sex offender, just a few blocks away. It's all right there on the Web site. It's available and it's stunning.

We asked several people to try the Web site, to see if there were any sex offenders in their neighborhoods.

"It came up with four or five within a half-mile of our house, which is a little disturbing," said Annette Bergeon.

"She actually goes to school in this area so that's kind of interesting," said Leslie McGeorge, as she looked at the computer map of her neighborhood.

It was an eye-opening experience for those we showed.

"The biggest concern would be the children," said Terry Rigo.

So what can or should a parent do?

Steve Johnson is in charge of the sex offender registry at the Colorado Bureau Of Investigation. He said that it's important to talk with your children about who is living in your neighborhood and around schools.

"Once you find out certainly we don't condone any vigilantly," said Johnson. "We just ask that you be ever so conscious of the actions and the movements. Certainly that would be a house that you would want to avoid."

However, that conversation needs to be handled carefully.

"A child has a natural curiosity to say, 'Why mom?' or 'Why dad?' 'Why should I avoid there?' so you have to be prepared to anticipate that question and not raise the child's curiosity to go to that address," said Johnson.

He also recommends going to local law enforcement Web sites instead of independent Web sites, to find out if sexual predators are living in your neighborhood.

"The information that is placed on other Web sites is not regulated so it's buyer or user beware of the information," said Johnson. "It may not have been verified and may not be accurate."

Bottom line: check on the Internet and with your local law enforcement. Both can provide you with information so you can protect yourself and our children.

"Educate your children and teach them the right things," said Terry Rigo, a Douglas County parent.

"It's very important. we got to keep our kids safe," said Annette Bergeon, a mother.

The people behind www.familywatchdog.us said the site is updated every 24 hours. But remember, Web sites like that are unregulated.

Here are a number links to law enforcement websites where you can get a list of registered sex offenders in your area.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Adams County Registered Sex Offender Information

Arapahoe County Registered Sex Offender Information

Aurora Police Department Registered Sex Offender Information

Boulder County Sex Offender Search

Colorado Springs Sex Offender Posting

Denver Sex Offender Registry List

Douglas County Sex Offender List

Jefferson County Sex Offender Registry

Larimer County Registered Sex Offenders

Laramie County Registered Sex Offenders

Longmont Sex Offender Web Posting

Moffat County Registered Sex Offenders

Weld County Sex Offender Map

Family Watchdog