Halloween can be full of spooky tricks and delicious treats. It’s definitely a childhood favorite and can provide fun memories to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, Halloween is also associated with a spike in crime rates. Luckily, the following best practices can help you and your family stay safe this Halloween season. Here are a few tips to ensure you remember the holiday for all the right reasons.

1. Turn Off Your Alarm

This sounds counter-intuitive, but false alarms are not a good thing. If you plan on having trick-or-treaters visit your door all night, be sure to turn off your alarm during this time. The constant opening of your door along with the extra people on your property could set your alarm off when you’re not in danger. Just be sure to turn your alarm system back on after the last trick-or-treater walks down your driveway.

2. Leave Your Outside Lights On

Not only does your front porch light let trick-or-treaters know you’re handing out candy, it deters possible vandals. Unfortunately, not every trick on Halloween is quite so innocent. So turn on all of your outdoor lights before, during, and after trick-or-treating is over. Vandals are much less likely to visit your property without the cover of darkness.

3. Position Decorations Correctly

Gravestones, bats in the trees, jack-o-lanterns, whatever you plan on putting out to get in the holiday spirit, keep it out of walkways. These can become tripping hazards which can lead to big problems. Trick-or-treaters are often wearing masks which hinders their ability to see exactly where they’re walking. Give them the best chance at a safe Halloween by making sure the path to your door is free of obstructions.

4. Sweep Your Walkways

Along those lines, it’s also a good idea to sweep your walkways. Everyone knows leaves fall throughout autumn, but it’s easy to forget they can become slippery, especially when wet. You don’t want to have injured children or parents on the sidewalk outside of your house. Ensuring everything is clean and clear is a great way to prevent this from happening.

5. Hide Your Car

Nothing seems to attract vandalism and theft like a car. Give yourself the best chance of avoiding this headache by keeping your car out of easy reach. Don’t park your car on the street, or even at the front of your driveway. The best place for your vehicle is in the garage. If that’s not possible, park it close to your house where you can leave it in front of a light throughout the night.

6. Consider Your Treats

The classic safety concern on Halloween are the treats received. We’ve all heard stories of needles and whatnot being stuck into Tootsie Rolls. The best way to comfort all who come to your house is to avoid anything that could be viewed as suspect. Make sure all your treats are fully wrapped. And even though it might be tempting to put a unique spin on Halloween, avoid handing out homemade treats.

7. Keep Your Screen Door Locked

Sometimes it’s easier to simply leave your main door open and hand candy around your screen door or storm door. In this case, you should still keep that outside door locked between visitors. It’s easy to walk away from your front door and forget about it. This leaves you open to unwanted visitors. Protect yourself by flicking the lock after every ghost and ghoul leaves your doorstep.

8. Keep Your Lights On Inside

Not all of us stay home on Halloween. There are plenty of fun things to do besides handing out candy. Or maybe you’re going to be on the street getting some candy for yourself. If you plan on stepping out into the night, make it look like you’re still home. Leave lights on inside your house, perhaps even your TV. This will keep your house from looking like a target to thieves.

9. Bring Your Pets Inside

Our pets like to spend as much time as possible outside, but Halloween might not be their favorite. The amount of people coming and going, combined with the additional noise can be stressful for pets. Trick-or-treaters might avoid your house altogether if it’s being loudly protected by a barking dog all night. So bring your pets inside and make them more comfortable so they can enjoy the night, too.

10. Put Away Mobile Items

Bicycles, lawnmowers, even some grills can be rolled away quickly and quietly. Don’t give possible thieves the chance to make off with items you might consider safe in your backyard. Put these items into your garage or shed. If that’s not an option, lock them to a fence or maybe a railing.

Call NCA alarms for security monitoring services in Nashville and treat yourself with peace of mind this Halloween.