Top Home Safety Tips for Halloween

Ghosts, ghouls and goblins aren’t the only things to worry about this Halloween. You’ll also need to be on the lookout for a real-life threat: burglars.

Thanks to the likelihood of homes being left unattended as families leave to go trick-or-treating or to attend parties, Halloween presents a unique opportunity for burglars. There’s also the commotion that comes with a Halloween night, and the fact that everyone drops their guard slightly on a night where people are expected to dress up in disguises.

But like any normal night, you want to make sure your home is secure; it just might take a little bit more of an effort on Halloween.

Whether you’re going to trick-or-treat with your kids, spend a night out enjoying the festivities or handing out candy from home, here are a few tips to keep your home safe.

While you’re out

Lock Your Doors and Windows

Let’s start with the basics: lock your doors and windows! The crisp autumn air can make it tempting to crack open the window or door, and that’s perfectly fine. However, don’t forget to close and lock them before you go trick-or-treating.

Keep Your Home Well Lit

Turn on a few lights inside your house before heading out. Lights serve as a great deterrent for burglars, as a lit home gives off the impression that someone is inside.

Make Security Signs and Decals Visible

If you’re the type to go all out with Halloween decorations, make sure you’re careful to not obscure the signs and decals that came with your alarm system. These let burglars know that your home is protected and can turn them away immediately.

Arm Your System

Arm your alarm system! There is no reason why you shouldn’t be arming your system, with multiple convenient ways to do it. You can arm your system using your Control Panel, a Keychain Remote or using the Frontpoint Mobile App (Interactive or Ultimate Monitoring required).

Staying in?

If you plan on staying home and handing out treats, you shouldn’t let your guard down. It’s just as important to be careful and wary of any suspicious activity.

Keep System Armed, Bypass the Front Door

It’s possible to keep your system armed, while bypassing a single sensor so it won’t be triggered (find out how to bypass a sensor here). This can be helpful if you plan on handing out treats, as you’ll most likely need to constantly open the front door.

Be Mindful of Cars

With homeowners distracted by the constant flow of trick-or-treaters to their door, some burglars may target unattended vehicles instead of homes. If you can, lock your cars inside your garage. If that’s not option, remove all valuables (including the garage door opener!) and make sure to your cars are visible from inside your home.

This Halloween, let ghosts, ghouls and goblins be the only things that scare you. Use these tips and enjoy a safe, fun evening of trick-or-treating or other festivities.