With Halloween just around the corner, mischief is afoot. The National Crime Prevention Council offers these tips to ensure for a safe visit from trick-or-treaters:
- Clear your yard of obstacles that are difficult to see at night, such as decorations
- Keep your house well lit
- Ask your Neighborhood Watch to patrol your neighborhood
- Report any suspicious activity to the police
Even after Halloween has come and gone, property crimes may occur. Make sure your Scottsdale homeowners insurance has you covered.
Arizona Property Crimes
When we talk about property crimes, we mean burglary, theft, arson, auto theft, and bicycle theft, as described under the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report for 2010.
According to AZCentral.com, the top Arizona cities for property crime include:
- Glendale (596.7)
- Tempe (523.9)
- Avondale (489.5)
- Phoenix (424.5)
- Mesa (338.8)
These are the number of crimes per 10,000 residents. In Scottsdale, there were 6,563 crimes in 2010. That’s an average of 301.9 per 10,000 residents.
Protect Your Home and Auto
Razor blades in candy and a rise in the number of abductions of young trick-or-treaters are considered urban myths. However, many cities report that ordinary street crime on Halloween is very real. In particular, homeowners need to be aware of malicious damage such as smashed windows and vandalized autos.
The most common types of crime from among the incidents reported on Halloween and adjacent days were:
- Theft (32%)
- Destruction or vandalism of property (21%)
- Assault (19%)
- Burglary (9%)
In fact, vandalism and property destruction accounted for a greater proportion of crime around Halloween compared to other days of the year.
To help protect your home and auto from petty property crimes, here are some suggestions:
- Park your car in the garage or driveway. If you do park your vehicle outside, make sure to lock all doors, roll-up windows, remove all valuables, and use a theft-deterrent device. Keep in mind that parking your car in the street removes it from your property and makes it more vulnerable.
- Smashing pumpkins isn’t just the name of a rock band; it’s an activity that some young people seem to enjoy. To keep them safe, place your lighted pumpkins outside your front door where you can keep an eye on them, and only do so for a few hours in the evening.
- If you’re not interested in greeting visitors on Halloween, keep a light on so your home appears occupied. However, turn out the porch light to let trick-or-treaters know you are not offering any treats. One of the best ways to keep your home safe is to add external motion-sensitive lights. This way you have light whenever anyone – friend or stranger – approaches.
And don’t forget to ensure you have adequate insurance to cover any losses. Speak with your insurance agent to verify the type and amount of coverage. According to an Arizona criminal defense lawyer at The Hogle Law Firm.
More and more Scottsdale residents have come to rely on us to provide the right policy at the right price. We coordinate coverages and make it easy to manage. Contact us today for a quote.