Despite the largely innocent nature of modern Halloween traditions, Halloween night can also conceal thieves and vandals, making ‘trick or treat’ a bit more of a threat than a cheerful children’s catchphrase.
It’s a known fact that insurance claims for malicious damage around the time of Halloween and Bonfire Night each year. Aviva reported in 2022 that malicious damage claims increase by 21% in October and November, and home theft claims went up by 23% in the same months.
Many stores will stop selling eggs and flour in the week leading up to Halloween, but with fireworks in plentiful supply and the clocks going back, there’s a lot of opportunity for mischief under cover of darkness.
Here are a few ways you can protect yourself, your home and property this Halloween.
Light up the shadows
Having lights on around your home, including on the driveway and around entrances, can discourage any pranksters hiding in dark corners. This will also make your home friendlier for innocent ghouls who are simply in it for the sweets.
If you’re not comfortable with answering your door to trick or treaters, don’t feel compelled to. It can be tempting to turn your visible lights off and pretend you’re not in, but vandals may be less likely to strike if they know someone is home. Deterrents can play a big part in home security.
Don’t go up in flames
If you’re embracing the season with jack o’lanterns and other decorations, beware unattended flames. It’s much safer to light up your pumpkins with LED tealights, and they won’t pose a hazard to flammable fancy dress costumes, either.
Home security
Whether you’re staying in or going out, make sure your property is secure. Put your car in the garage if you have one; tidy away anything in the driveway or front garden that could be easily used to cause damage. Attempt to secure any property which usually lives outdoors but isn’t fixed to anything. There are a lot of people roaming the streets on Halloween and if your valuables are on display this could make them a prime target for thieves.
Car thefts are sadly a more common occurrence on Halloween night, so if you don’t have a garage, try to make sure your car is parked in a well-lit area where potential thieves may be deterred.