What’ll it be for you this Halloween? Trick or treat – or trip and sue? If you don’t want the latter, then you may want to make home safety a priority for Halloween.
Claims data from Travelers Insurance show that on Halloween, the insurance company experiences 15% more theft claims on-premises and 72% more vandalism and malicious mischief claims compared to every other day of the year.
And it’s not just one or two things that can go wrong, either. On the theft side of the ledger of potential problems, a lot of consumers get lazy in two areas when they go trick-or-treating.
For one thing, Travelers researchers found that only 52% of respondents lock their doors when they go trick-or-treating. And another 35% of homeowners turn all their lights out in the house when they go out to trick-or-treat, giving the impression the house is empty to any thieves.
Another potential hazard waiting to ruin the celebration is live fire. Like all the candles we love to burn – 52% of survey respondents said they burn real candles inside their home and another 39% said they do the same outside.
Sure, you may say “That’ll never happen to me” and you might – or might not – be right. But stuff happens.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are about 800 home structure fires every Halloween, reeking $13 million in property damage. Some 45% of these fires occurred because the decorations were too close to a heat source, such as a candle or hot equipment.
Then, there are a bunch of folks who like to have the neighbors over and build a bonfire in the backyard to keep everyone warm – another certain potential fire hazard if the fire’s not completely put out. And worse, yet, if the embers of the bonfire land on your neighbor’s property.
If you want to play it safe
Jennifer Wilbert, assistant vice president, Personal Insurance Property at Travelers told ConsumerAffairs that it’s actually pretty easy to play it safe at Halloween without losing your spooky mojo. Her advice goes like this:
Do not put candles in places where they might be easily knocked over, and never leave a lit candle unattended.
Clear your yard and sidewalk of potential hazards that could trip up trick-or-treaters, and make sure the path to your door is well-lit.
If you’re heading out to enjoy Halloween festivities yourself, take steps to make your home appear occupied as a deterrent to thieves and vandals. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your property, and/or leave security systems, motion-triggered lights and other theft deterrents activated to make your home a less attractive target. You can even leave a light or TV on in the house to make it seem like you’re home.
If possible, park your car off the street — and ideally, in a garage. If you have to leave your car outside, make sure your valuables are removed or hidden from view, and that your car is locked.
Wilbert says we should pay particular attention to our Halloween decorations. If you haven’t bought yours yet, she suggests avoiding dried flowers, cornstalks and crêpe paper because they are highly combustible.
“Keep these and other decorations away from open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters,” she cautions.
As for electrical decorations, she recommends making sure that whatever you buy has been tested for safety. “Look for a certification mark from UL, CSA, ETL or another nationally-recognized laboratory,” Wilbert recommends, adding three other precautions for electrical safety:
When plugging in decorations, avoid daisy-chaining extension cords, which may cause overheating.
Never staple, nail through or fasten electrical wires or extension cords in any way that might damage the wire or insulation. This could cause electrical shock or fire.
Plug all outdoor lights and decorations into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to help reduce the risk of electric shock. Portable GFCIs for outdoor use can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold.
And don’t forget your car
Another forget-me-not is that vehicle thefts and break-ins spike during Halloween. Wilbert says that you should always make sure your car is locked and stored in a garage if possible. Plus, avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle overnight like wallets, electronics, etc.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2023-10-16 11:13:59
