Top 5 Halloween Home Security and Safety Tips

Halloween is almost here, and kids and adults everywhere are starting to get into the holiday spirit. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement surrounding Halloween, but it’s important to remember that there are some very real home security concerns for this holiday. Since many adults wear costumes in public and hand out candy, you may not realize when the stranger you are speaking to is actually a criminal scouting out your neighborhood. On Halloween we open our doors constantly, which is another security risk. Here are a few security tips to keep your Halloween safe and happy.
 
     1.  Don’t post your Halloween plans on Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere else. If the whole world knows you are going to a party, it means your house will be empty, and an easy target. If you are hosting a big party, it gives someone the opportunity to put on a costume, casually walk into your house, and rob you and you’d never be able to identify the thief.
   
     2. Leave your lights on. If you do plan to be away from home on Halloween night, leave interior and exterior lights on. Mischief makers love darkness, and the light will be a good deterrent.
   
     3.  Use caution before opening the door. Your doorbell will ring frequently, and criminals know that most homeowners let their guard down. If the people at the door seem suspicious, don’t open it. You also shouldn’t let anyone inside your home, unless you know the person well.
 
      4.  Keep pets away from the front door. The constant ringing of the doorbell, visitors, costumes and excitement can make your dog or cat anxious, or allow them to run away. Keep them safe and protected in another area of the house.
   
     5.  Don’t use real candles or fire in any Halloween decorations. Costumes and décor is very flammable, and fire is never something to play around with. Use LED lights or flameless candles in your pumpkins and decorations to keep your holiday safe and happy.

  Here’s a final tip that can help make your community’s celebration a safe one. Installing a home alarm system is always a good idea, but you can also prevent crime and mayhem before it happens. Every neighborhood watch group should have extra patrols in the neighborhood on Halloween night to deter teenagers from pulling pranks on neighbors, and to keep burglars at bay. If your friends or family live in a community without a watch group, groups neighbors can walk or drive around and patrol the community themselves. Even the appearance of foot and car traffic on this night will keep homeowners and renters safe.

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