Don’t be tricked this Halloween

With the pressures of modern life, home security can be overlooked. Sadly, the likelihood of increased hardship across the UK due to the cost-of-living crisis may also see an increase in burglaries and theft over the Halloween, Bonfire Night and clocks going back period.

National Home Security Month (NHSM), which officially takes part in October every year, aims to raise awareness of the importance of home security and offer tips and advice to help protect the nation’s homes, families, and possessions.

According to National Home Security, the period incorporating the clocks going back (the night before Halloween), Halloween on the 31st of October, and Bonfire Night, on 5th November, is statistically the worst time of year for burglaries.

Domestic damage also rockets up by 160%. Car crime also increases by 20% on both Halloween, followed by Bonfire Night. Research shows that when the clocks go back, burglaries increase by 38%.

Bonfire Night’s loud firework explosions act as a perfect cover for opportunist thieves, and it doesn’t stop them from breaking in while the owners are still inside.

Out ‘trick or treating’ this Halloween?

While burglary rates decreased during the pandemic due to most of us being stuck indoors, this year, with more events planned and the ability to go trick or treating, more homes are likely to be left empty for a few hours at least.

Burglars are opportunists. They notice areas of weakness such as open windows, poor quality locks and vulnerable outbuildings. With that in mind, home security experts Boundary.co.uk reports that 60% of burglaries happen between 6pm and 6am.

Whether you are heading out or staying in, now is the time to review your home security to ensure your Halloween is a ‘treat’ as opposed to being tricked!

A startling 20% of us admit to leaving our front doors unlocked when we go out!To prevent any unsolicited ‘tricks’, invest in a letterplate restrictor to fit on your letterbox.If you don’t want to be disturbed over the Halloween period, display a “No Trick or Treaters” sign on your front door (available front most local police forces).Remember – don’t share your plans on social media until after the event. You don’t want to let potential thieves know when your home will be left empty and vulnerable.

Tips to keep your home secure this Halloween

Ensure external timber doors are secured with a mortice lock and/or night latch that meet British Standard BS3621. If you have PVC-u or composite door, consider upgrading the cylinder to a British Standard, TS007 Kitemarked model.Check you have closed all your windows! All windows, upstairs and down, should be fitted with at least one appropriate key-operated lock. Hide your valuables! The most stolen items in domestic burglaries are electrical devices, bicycles, jewellery, and cash.Mark your property. From SmartWater to Immobilise, the UK’s National Property Register, there are several ways to mark your property that could help it being returned by the police. Make the perimeter around your property hard to access. Secure gates with a heavy-duty. weatherproof padlock, trim hedges for improved visibility and make sure fences are in good repair.Tidy your garden. As the nights draw in, don’t leave ladders, tools or garden furniture lying around outside. Lock them away with a heavy-duty weatherproof padlock. For extra security, use anchor locks and cables for individual items.Check your exterior lighting. Security lighting not only increases visibility, but also acts as a deterrent for potential thieves.Consider investing in a form of CCTV. ‘Ring’ doorbells are great for capturing movement outside the front of your property which could be useful in the event of a claim. External ‘smart’ floodlights are also available online or in shops like Argos, are easy to set up. Or get in touch with home security experts, such as Boundary, for advice.

For further information and to discuss home security with one of our local insurance experts, contact your local A-Plan branch. We would be more than happy to run through some of the best ways to protect your home and help you check that your are correctly covered should the worst happen.