Oct 27, 2016

By: Chelsea Haley, DKI Ventures, LLC

Halloween is the spookiest day of the year!

According to Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, statistics show more vandalism insurance claims are filed on Halloween than any other day of the year. Don’t let your business be a target for vandalism. Make sure you take the proper precautions to protect it.

Lock it up

Whether you close early or on time, make sure the last person to leave checks to ensure all doors and windows are locked. Also, make sure any important paperwork or money is locked up and secure. If possible, bring in any equipment from outside and store away.

Sound the alarm

Always turn on your alarm system before you close, but, especially on Halloween night, test and ensure this is set up to ward off burglars. If you do not have an alarm system, we highly encourage you consider installing one.

Light ‘em up

The alarm system will chase unwanted visitors away, but may leave you with a broken window or other damaged property. Consider keeping some of your lights on, or installing motion sensor lights to deter them from sneaking around your property. Burglars and vandals sometimes target businesses on Halloween, since customers are typically elsewhere or pre-occupied with their little trick-or-treaters, turning these business blocks into dark ghost towns – a perfect mark for vandals. So, light ‘em up!

Check it before you wreck it

Since streets are filled with candles and jack-o-lanterns, the number of fires increases greatly on Halloween. It’s wise to test your smoke alarms around your place of business to avoid serious property damage. Also, consider replacing your own candle decorations with battery-operated lights to reduce your risks. Even if a vandal causes the accident, your business may be liable.