According to a study conducted by the Boston Globe, crime rates increase by 50% on Halloween night. If you’re out trick-or-treating with the kids, burglars could take advantage of people being away from home and the unfamiliar traffic and pedestrians typically out on Halloween. Protect your home before going trick or treating. Use these tips to stay safe and enjoy the fun sideo of this spooky evening.
General Safety Tips:
- Choose your trick or treating venue or neighborhood wisely.
- Take steps to protect your vehicles.
- Provide plenty of light in walkways.
- Make sure your trick or treaters are visible.
- Avoid distractions while walking and driving.
Protect Your Home:
- Provide plenty of lighting around the exterior of your home to make it easy to see people who approach your home and so visitors don’t stubmble on anything unseen.
- Place decorations strategically so that they will not be a tripping hazard. Avoid extension cords if possible.
- Keep all unsupervised points of entry into your home locked. It is a good idea to have your security system activated, even if you are just outside. You may not be aware of someone trying to break into your house while you’re handing out Halloween candy.
- Leave all valuables out of sight.
- Let your neighbors know that you do not plan to be home so that they can keep any eye out for anything suspicious.
Protect Your Vehicle:
- Keep in mind that car theft increases as well on Halloween, so protect your vehicle. Park your car in your garage or at a well-lit area in a trusted neighborhood.
- Remove all valuables from your car and never leave any in sight, espeically money or a purse, even for a few minutes.
- Lock all the doors and roll up all the windows.
- Set your alarm on your vehicle.
My Alarm Center provides security monitoring that will allow you to stay safe all year round. Plan for Halloween so that you can guarantee your home will be safe, even if you plan to celebrate somewhere else.