Tips for Keeping Your Home and Family Safe on Halloween Night
Although Halloween can be a fun holiday for many, it's important to always keep safety in mind. No matter what type of community or neighborhood you live in, Halloween presents endless opportunities for crime. Therefore, if you are going to entertain trick-or-treaters from your home, you should always border on caution.
Here are a few basic suggestions for keeping your home and family safe:
Establish specific start and end times for welcoming trick-or-treaters. You may say for example, "I will start greeting trick-or-treaters at 6PM and stop at 7:30PM." Be firm with this. You may be tempted to continue opening your door into the late evening hours, but doing so may put you and your family at risk for danger.
Never open your door without first checking to see who's there. While this sounds like basic common sense, you may let your guard down as a wave of trick-or-treaters graces your doorstep. Never assume that everyone who knocks or rings your doorbell is there for the same reason on Halloween. This would make you an easy target for a home invasion.
Always keep the outside of your house well lit on Halloween night. This will not only let visitors know that you are welcoming trick-or-treaters, but it will also discourage anyone from trying anything shady.
Don't open your door to adults (young or old ones) if they are trick-or-treating without children. Just because someone is standing at your door with a bag and a smile doesn't mean they have good intentions. Unless they are individuals in your neighborhood that you happen to know extremely well, you would be wise to let them move on to the next house or if they look suspicious, call the police. Better to be safe than sorry!
If you live alone - especially if you are a female or an elderly person - let a trusted neighbor or loved one know what times you will be welcoming trick-or-treaters and request that they check on you later in the evening. You don't have to make a big issue about this - it's just a precautionary measure that will make you and those close to you feel a little more at ease.
Published by Dr. Jamie Yvette - Featured Education Contributor
Dr. Jamie Yvette is a passionate and versatile writer whose expansive library on AC is a reflection of her diverse writing interests. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentThanks for the Great Tips. I bought a lot of pencils during the big July sells I'm going to give them to the older kids.
I too have welcomed some teens to my home on Halloween Carol, but only those who I personally know through my kids or because they live on our street. Thanks Cath and Mommy for your comments :)
Great tips! These are sure to help people sort things out. I like what Mike had to say as well. LOL at the pencils.
These are some really good tips..Halloween can be a dangerous time for crime..
I welcome the teens. Better trick or treating than hanging out causing trouble. Besides, you can never be too old for trick or treating!
That's funny Mike! I too have noticed this trend with teenagers and I never would've thought of the pencil idea. Thanks Lisa and Bridgitte for your comments. Have a great holiday!!!
Great Halloween safety tips! Happy Halloween! :-)
Excellent tips!!!
Thank you Doc, outstanding as usual. During the past 20 years there is a trend of teenagers going for trick or treat. I would have been embarrassed to do this back in the '70s, but nowadays things are different. A buddy of mine responded by purchasing a bunch of pencils. When the older kids showed up, instead of candy he gave them a pencil and said, "You're too old to be trick or treating. Go home and do your homework!" Maybe that's extreme but I could see his point. Also if 8 or 10 kids show up at once, keep an eye out for any who may try to "go through the line" twice. You need not be like the police, but kids shouldn't get away with this. Finally, soft candy bars like Three Musketeers are better than the chewy stuff like Tootsie Rolls and salt water taffy that stick on the teeth.