Security Guard Tips for a Safe and Spooky Halloween
We all know people can get up to know good on Halloween. Darkness and costumes pretty much call for mischief. Your October 31 doesn’t have to be creepy or dangerous, though, and you don’t have to feel threatened or unsafe in your home or while you’re walking around the neighborhood with your kids. Follow these security guard tips for a safe and still spooky Halloween.
Sit Outside
Getting up to open the door for trick or treaters every few minutes gets old quickly. Plus, it isn’t safe. Have you ever considered this practice? Would you open the door blindly on any other day of the year, at night, for an unknown person on the other side of the door?
There is an easy solution: sit outside. Weather permitting – and you can always bundle up if the conditions are unfriendly – get situated on your porch or front stairs or driveway with candy bags and treats and control the flow of traffic to and from your home. You send a message to visitors that this is as far as anyone gets in the politest way possible.
Don’t Leave the House Unattended
If you’re concerned about vandalism or break-ins on Halloween night, make a plan. Figure out if one parent can stay behind to hand out candy and cover the premises. See if your child can tag along with another family or friends to hit the best houses.
Whether you’re home or not, install a doorbell camera to let potential troublemakers know they’re being watched or, if you need a more sophisticated operation, talk to your local security company about a bigger surveillance operation.
Leave the Lights On
You may have run out of candy and you’re ready to turn off the outside light to alert trick or treaters that your home doesn’t have any more sugar, but don’t make your entire house dark inside. It’s okay if they know you’re home – in fact, it’s a good thing if they know you’re there.
Just because you’re done inviting people to come grab their favorite chocolate or sweet doesn’t mean you’ve abandoned your vigilance about home safety. That’s a reasonable message to send.
Check Doors and Windows Before You Go Out
Halloween is a mostly nighttime activity, and that’s the easiest time of day for a vandal or thief to get their work done. Don’t make it easy for them. Check that all doors and windows are locked around your entire house so no one can get it (and your pets can’t get out).
Even if you’re sitting right there on the front porch, you’re not inside – which means someone could easily come in the back or side if they aren’t blocked from doing so. Adding sensors to doors and windows is smart because they will send immediate phone alerts should the premises be breached.
Enjoy Your Halloween
Crimes on Halloween involve everything from vandalism to burglary, car theft to underage drinking, property crime to disorderly conduct. You don’t want any of this happening on your watch or on your property but, if it does, call the police when appropriate, or 911 if things get especially bad.
Halloween is supposed to be fun for everyone but, unfortunately, it doesn’t always turn out that way. Do your best to keep yourself and your people safe by following these security guard tips. If you need even more assistance, schedule a consultation with Korner Security, serving the Detroit area.