Halloween is just a few days away, and beyond the frightening ghouls and goblins is something truly to be feared – vandalism. As the 2015 study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found vandalism peaks on Halloween with vehicles being 2X more likely to be vandalized. Additionally, insurance claims were 9% higher than the average claim. So how can you enjoy treats while avoiding tricks? Number of Insurance Claims by Holiday (2015)Source: Scary Statistic: Vehicle Vandalism Peaks on Halloween, CarscoopsSecureOne of the easiest things you can do is check to make sure your valuables are secure. This means locking your doors and windows for both your vehicle and home. You should also remove or hide any valuables in your vehicle, and park in a garage if possible. It’s also a good idea to install/activate a security and/or ask your neighborhood watch to patrol the area during beggar’s night hours.VisibleAnother key area to reduce your chance of becoming victim to vandalism, is increasing visibility. You can increase visibility by installing/turning on exterior lights around your home. Additionally, if do not own a garage, park your car in a well-lit area. Besides adding more lighting, trimming bushes and shrubs can make it more difficult for someone to hide. While we cannot prevent all tricks this Halloween – we do hope these tips will help to reduce the likelihood of vandalism!SourcesScary Statistic: Vehicle Vandalism Peaks on Halloween, CarscoopsHalloween Sparks Most Vandalism Claims of the Year, APCITrick or Treat, Deter and prevent halloween vandalismHalloween Safety Tips, National Neighborhood Watch

By Krystal Rogers-Nelson Originally posted by RIS Media’s Housecall Blog on Apr 21 2017  “Even though a burglary occurs every 20 seconds in the U.S., you can still protect yourself without installing top-dollar security features. Home burglary generally has a pattern; criminals […]